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By JOYANNA LOVE/ Managing Editor

Clanton is considering joining the Alabama Communities of Excellence program as part of its downtown revitalization efforts.

The Clanton City Council will vote on joining this program at the May 24 meeting.

“There is no cost to the city to become involved in that,” Council member Billy Singleton said. “We have to apply for it, and the deadline application is July 31 … One of the requirements is a resolution from the city to pursue that.”

Singleton said the program has many partners that would be beneficial for Clanton in presenting information on the best way to move forward.

“Essentially, where this goes is through the strategic planning process,” Singleton said.

He said membership in this program would also help the city as it pursues full membership in the MainStreet Alabama organization.

Mayor Jeff Mims said he is working on getting prices on converting the downtown crosswalks from concrete to brick pavers, similar to what Montevallo has.

Mims said he has also been in discussion with the Alabama Department of Transportation about needed road improvements and possible changes to increase traffic flow, especially where school traffic comes onto Highway 31.

The city could apply for funding for through the Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program.

An immediate project ALDOT wants Clanton to tackle is moving the utility pipes that are under state roads.

Future plans also include having someone from ALDOT rate the city roads as an A, B or C for quality.

The mayor is also pursuing quotes from Wiregrass Construction for paving roads in Ollie Park, parking, sports courts and Goose Pond Park parking.

In coordination with economic development efforts, the city’s committee for economic development has been reviewing the 100 properties that the city owns to determine what would be best to keep and what would be best to sell. At this point, there are 16 properties being considered to sell. Mims said surveys are needed for three of these.