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By JOYANNA LOVE/ Managing Editor

The Jemison City Council approved increasing the fee for building permits during its Dec. 6 meeting.

This fee is based on the cost of the project. The fee was increased as a part of updating the city’s building codes to bring them in line with the 2018 edition of the international building code. A $12 fee for issuing the building fee was also added. There is also a $50 fee for electrical inspections.

Council members approved suspending the normal meeting rules to allow the changes to be approved on the same night as the first reading of the ordinance. The ordinance was approved unanimously.

In a separate motion, the fire code ordinance was also updated to the 2018 edition.

The council received an update from Tyler McKeller of Living Waters, the company that has taken over the city’s sewer permit, for operations from April 1 to Oct. 31.

McKeller said there were zero sanitary sewer overflows and zero permit violations during that time. The city is under strict regulations by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management because of issues it experienced years ago.

Councilman Rex Bittle asked if these regulations could change in the future based on the improvements that the city has made.

McKeller said because the city discharges to a Cahaba River basin, regulations would always be at least as strict as they are now.

“The great news is, your plant can handle some tighter restrictions,” McKeller said.

He confirmed that even if the ADEM restrictions became stricter at some point, it could handle it.

Also, with the permit being in Living Waters name, they carry the liability for any issues.

McKeller said the city staff had been good to work with, and Mayor Eddie Reed thanked the company for the work it was doing.

Also during the meeting, the council approved purchasing a Ford F-150 for the police department.