By CHRISTINE BOATWRIGHT / Staff Writer

CALERA – The Calera City Council voted to make budget adjustments to allow the city to join the Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce’s Shelby One initiative.

The GSCC asked the city for a five-year commitment at $2,000 per year. In return, the GSCC will offer business support and development, governmental relations efforts and marketing, Mayor Jon Graham said during a Feb. 19 work session.

“The chamber is a voice for businesses and a resource for municipalities,” Graham said.

The GSCC is also asking for members of the Calera community to join sub-committees.

“We need to be a voice, and we need to be at the table,” Graham said.

Calera Finance Director Roy Hadaway said the city has $5,000 budgeted for city promotion, and the council could take money from that budget item to join Shelby One.

During the work session, the council also discussed billing for Calera city prosecutor Casey Duncan.

Duncan represents the city in the Shelby County circuit court when cases are appealed.

Due to a “hiccup” in billing on Duncan’s part, Duncan presented the city with past bills at about $12,000, according to Hadaway.

“The billing is legitimate, it’s just that it’s old,” Hadaway said.

The council voted to let Hadaway make budget adjustments to pay the bills that had accumulated.

During council members’ reports, Councilman Alan Watts asked for a hole on 16th Street near 19th Avenue to be repaired or filled. City Engineer Chris Pappas said there had been a water leak under the road, and the hole would be repaired soon.

Additionally, Rebecca Krueger, coordinator for the Calera Acts of Kindness event, said she needs volunteers before and after the March 2 event. Beginning next week, volunteers will work from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. to organize clothing donations at the Calera Community Center, which is located at 8560 U.S. 31 South.

A drop box for donations is located at Calera Presbyterian Church at 1965 14th Street.

“We’re also tight on volunteers for clean up,” Randy Krueger said.