The Jemison Council approved an ordinance Monday night allowing the annual license fee for selling and distributing alcoholic beverages to be prorated.

The total license fee of $2,500 will be divided by 12, and the licensee will pay the city the monthly amount multiplied by the number of months remaining in the year from the time the license was obtained.

The previous ordinance did not account for business owners who got their alcohol sales licenses half- or more than halfway through a calendar year.

“We’ve had a lot of business people that said a lot of other cities don’t do it this way,” Mayor Eddie Reed said. “Now, we’re in line with everyone else.”

In other business, the council noted upcoming community events in Jemison:

•A citywide cleanup will be Monday, April 23 through Friday, April 27. City employees will pick up all trash items except chemicals, paints, car tires and batteries.

•A carnival to raise money for the city’s next festival will be Thursday, April 5 through Saturday, April 7 in Jemison City Park. Armbands for each day are $15. The carnival will begin at 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday and at noon Saturday.

Reed also read a letter of appreciation that a Chilton County resident wrote to the Jemison Police Department.

“We get these letters often from citizens, and our police department has responded professionally,” Reed said. “We thank the work the officers do in Jemison. It makes our work easier.”