COLUMBIANA – Important dates related to free landfill days and railroad closures were announced at the Shelby County Commission meeting on Monday, Jan. 22.

The free days at the Shelby County Landfill in 2018 will be April 7 and Oct. 6—both Saturdays.

On these days, residents, churches and civic groups can dispose of residential trash and debris at the landfill with 1-ton trucks or smaller at no charge.

Municipal initiatives or projects on these dates that involve contract haulers who regularly dispose of the municipal residential waste at the Alabama 70 landfill, pick up materials on the free dates and deliver the materials on the same free dates will be allowed to participate as long as prior approval is obtained through the Shelby County Development Services-Landfill Division.

Each applicable municipal contracted waste transport vehicle must display the county-assigned access placard in the front window of each approved vehicle.

It was also announced at the Commission meeting that Norfolk Southern would close three railroad crossings in Shelby County in the coming weeks.

The crossing on Shelby County 10 near Montevallo will be closed on Jan. 29; the crossing on Shelby County 17 in Maylene will be closed on Jan. 30; and the crossing on Shelby County 22 between Alabaster, Calera and Montevallo will be closed on Feb. 1.

Railroad officials indicated they would try to perform the needed work in between the morning and afternoon school traffic periods, according to Shelby County Engineer Randy Cole.

In other business, the Commission:

-Approved a contract with the Alabama Department of Transportation for a bridge replacement project on Shelby County 52 in Helena.

-Approved a contract with ALDOT for a project to improve Alabama 155 from the Chilton County line to Alabama 25 in the Dry Valley community.

-Approved alcohol beverage licenses for Spring Creek Package Store and Spring Creek Grocery.

-Heard that former commissioner and current Alabama Rep. Corley Ellis (R-Columbiana) is sponsoring legislation addressing privately held sewer systems.

-Heard from Cole that a project to improve the intersection of Shelby County 47 and Shelby County 39 in Chelsea could be completed in about a year.

-Heard from Chris Jones PACE Financing about the company’s financing services for property owners who are making upgrades for increased energy efficiency.