By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

The Clanton City Council unanimously approved an agreement with Clanton Police Department’s Capt. David Clackley accepting ownership of Clanton Police K-9 Max during a meeting on Oct. 22.

In the agreement, the city will be responsible for veterinarian bills and some other expenses. Clackley will retain breeding rights for the dog.

The agreement also states that if Clackley ever no longer worked for CPD or Max is ever retired from the force, the dog would be returned to Clackley.

“All of his certifications depend on me and him working together … I have had him since he was 13 weeks old,” Clackley said. “I have spent three years training him.”

Councilman Sammy Wilson asked if the city would have insurance on Max if he were injured in the line of duty. City Clerk Debbie Orange said the city’s insurance would not cover animals.

Insurance would not cover damage but would cover liabilities.

Max is certified for finding drugs and tracking. Clackley said Max has some training in apprehension, but he is not yet certified.

“I started it as a project, and he excelled beyond my expectations,” Clackley said.

Max has been used for school searches as well as public relation efforts at community events.

“If you go to a dog provider and ask for a dog that can search for drugs and track people but that you can trust to put around kids, most of them will tell you they don’t have that dog,” Clackley said. “It’s a huge asset in my opinion to the city … He’s got a fire for it (police work). He’s good at it.”

The Council also unanimously approved a rezoning request from residential (R1) to business (B3) for a portion of land on Highway 22 near Gray Street. Two houses on the property will be demolished for a Dollar General to be built on the site. While there were no comments in opposition to the rezoning during the public hearing at the Council meeting, several residents in the neighborhood had voiced questions and concerns during the Planning Commission meeting where the rezoning was discussed.

The Broadway Group is in the process of submitting the necessary plans and specifications to build the structure to the Clanton Building Department. Dollar General would then lease the building from The Broadway Group.

During the meeting, Councilman Bobby Cook announced that the CPD would be more strictly enforcing the city’s noise ordinance, especially loud mufflers.