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Note: This article has been updated to correct the number of SROs Clanton Police will be providing.

By JOYANNA LOVE | Managing Editor

The Clanton City Council heard an updated request for funding an SRO from the Chilton County Board of Education during a work session on Aug. 5.

There are currently two Clanton Police Department officers serving as SROs for the schools within the city.

BOE President Pam Price said the board does not have the $67,000 needed for a full-time SRO position.

Since the last time Price approached the council with the request to completely fund a position, she has also been in talks with the Chilton County Commission with a request for funding toward SROs.

Price said in cities that have their own school system, the city will generally fund the officers, while commissions paid a portion in other countries.

Mayor Jeff Mims had previously told Price the city could contribute toward one position.

An updated contract for having SROs has been written and presented to the mayor.

Removing a requirement for five years of experience has been discussed.

“The (Chilton County) Commission asked me to take that out,” Price said.

This request was made because not all of the officers serving in this role would have this much experience.

Price said she was trying to get the agreement finalized in time for the BOE to consider it at the Aug. 16 meeting.

Any changes the city wants to make will be sent to Price.

Also during the Aug. 5 meeting, Clanton Fire Chief David Driver presented information about contracting with a company that would be the responsible party’s insurance cost to try to recoup some cost of responding.

Driver said this is something several other departments do, but Clanton never has.

“If they do not have insurance, they do not get billed,” Driver said. “… This is just fires, hazmat calls, … wrecks or industrial accidents.”

The city attorney is reviewing the contract before the council considers it.

On the agenda for the Aug. 8 meeting, the council will make decisions on rezoning requests for property on Cooedy Road to be rezoned from agriculture district to light industrial district and property on Center Avenue be rezoned from multi-family residential district to general business district.

The council will also pass agreements with two local recreational teams for youth to add them as an additional insurer on their insurance in order to use the city fields.