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By JOYANNA LOVE/ Managing Editor

The Clanton City Council has begun considering designated truck routes through the city.

The ordinance was read for the first time at the Jan. 24 meeting of the council. If the current version of the ordinance is passed, designated truck routes would be as follows: Seventh Street/ U.S. Highway 31, Fourth Avenue North/ State Highway 22, Lay Dam Road/ State Highway 145, Friendship Road, Fourth Street North (from Third Avenue North to Fourth Avenue North), Third Avenue North (From First Street to Fourth Street North) and First Street (from Second Avenue to Third Avenue North).

Vehicles over two axles/ weighing more than 10,000 pounds would be prohibited on residential municipal streets. However, these vehicles would be permitted on these streets to make local deliveries, according to the ordinance.

Signage designating where the trucks were only permitted for deliveries would be installed in areas the Clanton Police Chief decides are necessary, if the ordinance is passed.

A vote is expected at a future meeting.

During the public hearing portion of the meeting, Thomas Cole Owen explained why he wants to rezone 20 acres at 198 Kemp Place from R-1 (Single Family Residential) to AG (Agricultural).

“On three sides, it is surrounded by agriculture land,” Owen said. “It has been used for agriculture land since the ’50s. I was not aware that it was an R-1 zone when I purchased the property.”

He said he had purchased it for agriculture use, and he has adjoining land that is being used for agriculture.

No one spoke against the rezoning request.

Jeffrey and Melissa Hann withdrew their request to rezone property on Creekwood Drive prior to the meeting.

Lisa Taylor’s request for annexation of 614 and 655 County Road 41 into the city limits was also read at the meeting, and it is expected to be voted on at a future meeting.

The council also considered an update to the ordinance outlining the facade requirements for Alabama Highways 22 and 145, U.S. Highway 31, Lake Mitchell Road and County Road 28 on its first reading. The masonry facade is required for 100% of the exterior of metal buildings on these roads. The update adds that this requirement applies “whether they are being constructed, remodeled, upgraded or otherwise altered.” Building plans have to be reviewed by the Building Department and the Planning Commission. A vote on this is expected at a future meeting of the council.

Also during the meeting, the council approved:

• Joining the class action lawsuit in the Endo Settlement related to opioid subscriptions.
• Applying for a FEMA SAFER grant for the Clanton Fire Department.
• Joining the Cahaba Solid Waste Disposal Authority. Through this authority, the city will use Amwaste for solid waste collection.

The next voting session of the Clanton City Council will be Feb. 14 at 5 p.m.