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By JOYANNA LOVE  | Managing Editor

The Clanton City Council received a good audit review during its work session on March 10.

Janice Hull of Hull & Russell gave an overview of the city’s audit during the meeting.

The access of revenue over expenditure for the general fund was $4.3 million.

There was a slight deficit, $142,290, in the water and sewer fund budget was because of how the city had to account for depreciation.

“Your depreciation was more than double what your loss was, so you more than covered your expense on that,” Hull said

Hull said the audit “looked good.”

The city has been transferring funds into the water fund to make up the deficit. A rate increase went into effect in February.

Council members were given a complete copy of the audit.

During the March 14 voting session, the council is expected to vote on an updated lease with the Chilton County Arts Council, allowing the Clanton Kiwanis Club to use Goose Pond Park for the spring carnival and increasing the minimum rate of pay for part-time police officers.

“Currently, we are using part-time officers for helping us fill SROs for the (Clanton) schools, which is every day five days a week, and we are having trouble doing that,” Police Chief Erick Smitherman said. “This entertainment district is coming, and we know there will be a lot more people in town.”

Part-time officers are also used to fill shifts when someone needs to be off. Smitherman said having full-time officers fill in these spots leads to overtime.

He said increasing the rate of part-time will make it more likely that qualified people from other agencies will work part-time for the Clanton Police Department.

Planning for specific training related to the entertainment district is in the works.

“I need more part-time people to help do this, and it also comes down to cost on having these full-time officersd work these details and paying overtime,” Smitherman said.

The March 14 meeting will be at Clanton City Hall at 5 p.m.