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By JOYANNA LOVE | Managing Editor

The Clanton City Council discussed its agenda for the April 24 meeting during a work session on April 20.

The council is set to approve a budget amendment to account for $643,000 in unanticipated revenue and some expenses that went over budget. Engineering expenses were over budget due to needing more of these services for grant applications. City clerk Jonathan Seale explained that some of the department heads had also requested amendments to move money to different line items within their budgets. He said this year the amendments “were very minimal compared to what I have seen in the past.”

Funds will also be considered to be transferred from the Industrial Development Board account to the general fund. Mayor Jeff Mims said this will be used toward developing retail opportunities in the city.

The contract for a grant writer is up for renewal. The contract has been $2,000 a month, and the contract the city council will review increases in to $2,200 per month.

Mims said the city is pursuing funding for sewer upgrades through the state. The fact that the city had raised the sewer rate reflected favorably it the discussion. Mims said the department is now breaking even, but additional funds are needed for improvements.

Also during the meeting, the council received an update that the Clanton Police Department had been awarded a $24,000 grant to purchase license plate readers. CPD Chief Erick Smitherman said the readers would be set up at Interstate 65, Exit 205. The readers will take pictures of license plates and save them to be reviewed or searched through as needed in the event of a crime in the area.

Mims also gave an update from the city’s workforce recruitment fair. He said several students had been hired as a result of the event.