By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

The Clanton City Council honored Dara Norman for his service with the Clanton Fire Department during a meeting on June 25.

Norman had been with the department since 1993 and retired earlier this year.

Fire Chief David Driver presented Norman with a plaque.

“We just wanted to give him a little token of appreciation from the fire department for his dedication for 25 years,” Driver said.

Norman thanked the City Council for everything they have done for the Fire Department.

“Someone said I would know when it was time, and I knew it was time,” Norman said.

A deteriorated portion of Industrial Park Drive (County Road 754) was also discussed. The City Council unanimously approved Tuscaloosa Testing Lab to work out a plan for fixing the road. This had been part of a previous project that was never completed. According to Mayor Billy Joe Driver, Clanton has $82,000 left over from a state grant that can be used toward the project. The state will give the city an additional $107,000 toward the project. The project will have to be re-bid, but is expected to cost $400,000.

Councilwoman Mary Mell Smith asked if the Alabama Department of Transportation was all right with Tuscaloosa Testing Lab developing the plan.

Billy Joe Driver said he had been in discussion with them, and ALDOT was all right with it.

Also during the meeting, the Council approved:

• Paying bills of $15,000 for prisoner housing, $16,942 for garbage pickup and $32, 146 for gasoline.
• LED lighting for E.M. Henry Community Center. Alabama Power will handle maintaining the lights. Mayor Billy Joe Driver said the new lights will save the city some money.
• Renewed an agreement with AT&T for U-Verse to provide television service to the city.
• A police officer attending advanced training on reconstructing crash scenes.