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The City of Jemison unanimously voted on Monday to appoint Robert Merritt to a job position for the city maintenance department.

Mayor Eddie Reed told council members Robert Morris, Donnie Lane, Rex Bittle and Sam Reed the open vacancy had been filled after the interview team selected Merritt for the position.

“Out of all of the applications we received, we thought Mr. Merritt was the most qualified,” Reed said. “We will have him here at the next council meeting to meet all of the council.”

Reed told the council Merritt has a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) that will be beneficial to the city.

Prior to Merritt’s hiring only one employee at the city had a CDL license.

“This will be tremendously beneficial for our city and we are pleased to be able to have this position filled,” Reed said.

The council also voted to approve two water adjustments for Scotty Gothard and Crystal Boggs.

Reed concluded the meeting by addressing the council with an update regarding grass cutting throughout the city.

Reed explained that due to a wet summer with frequent afternoon rainstorms that grass cutting in the city had slowed down.

“The cutting machine was down but it has been repaired and everything is picking back up,” Reed said.

The city will also continue cutting the grass along U.S. Highway 191 after learning that municipalities have to get permission to cut grass along U.S. Highways.

Reed said due to the grass growing and the Alabama State Highway Department only cutting the grass three times in the cutting season, the city would work to keep the area clean.

“This just isn’t acceptable for the city of Jemison and we will work to keep that area the way it should be,” Reed said.

The meeting concluded with Reed telling the council that councilman George Brasher was absent during the meeting due to his wife, Doris being involved in a car wreck near Smokey Hollow Restaurant on County Road 42 Monday afternoon.

Reed asked for everyone to remember the Brasher family before the meeting adjourned.