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By JOYANNA LOVE |Managing Editor

Infrastructure improvements were the focus of several votes by the Clanton City Council at its Feb. 28 meeting.

The council approved a service agreement with Neel-Scaffer Inc. to inspect the city’s bridges and bids for hot mix asphalt roadway patching and road markings.

Mayor Jeff Mims said in a work session on Feb. 24 that the hot mix patching is a higher quality than the cold mix patching that has been used in the past.

Several roads downtown have been paved recently, and the striping/ road markings have not been placed yet. In a previous meeting, it was stated that the new asphalt needed time to fully cure before road markings could be effectively put on.

The establishment of the Peach District entertainment district was also discussed. The required ordinance, which allow for consuming alcoholic beverages outside with in the district from 5 p.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday, was read at the Feb. 28 meeting. The plan is for the area to have outdoor events, such as live music at Corner Park, in the district in the future.

Cups must be paper or plastic and have the Peach District logo on it. Consuming alcoholic drinks in a motor vehicle will still be prohibited.

The ordinance also includes a provision for outdoor special events, such as Peach Jam, to have alcoholic beverages with prior approval from the mayor and securing the required special events license from the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. A specific boundary around the beer vendor would have to set up, and alcoholic drinks must be consumed within the boundary.

A vote on the entertainment district ordinance is expected at a future meeting.

Updates to the mobile food unit ordinance were approved. The ordinance requires that mobile food units must have a business license and a three-day permit to operate. Health department and fire marshal inspections are required.  Exceptions from Mims for a permit to operate in the same location for more than three days can be applied for. If the request is denied, an appeal can be made to the Clanton City Council. The ordinance also requires that these food units have written permission from business owners to operate on their property.  Blocking the entrances to brick-and-mortar restaurants during their business hours is prohibited.

Also during the meeting, Scott Zuelzke of the Clanton Kiwanis Club requested the use of Goose Pond Park for the Spring Carnival to be held April 19-23.

“Without your support, we wouldn’t be able to make this possible,” Zuelzke said.

Funds raised at the carnival are donated to local nonprofits, primarily those that serve children.

The council also heard concerns from Sue Smith about the council not enforcing its fumes ordinance when it comes to the Stella-Jones cross tie plant in Lomax. The city attorney said specifics of these concerns would be better discussed in a separate meeting with himself and possibly a couple council members.

During the meeting, the council also approved:

• Updates to the pre-trail diversion program.
• Delegates to the Alabama League of Municipalities business meeting.
• Allowing the Clanton Lions Club to use some of the city’s storage space.
• A lease agreement with Amwaste to lease them a city-owned garbage truck.