Calera Council approved for the town to assist with the senior citizens program costs until the SODA grant is awarded. The council met Tuesday and also decided to take back the utilities.

Police Chief Don Hyde spoke about new plans for the center.

“It’s not the Senior Citizen Center anymore,” Hyde said. “Our town seniors have renamed it the Calera Community Outreach Center.”

“It’s for anyone who needs something,” said Martha Pointer, a volunteer at the center.

The center can now be rented out by the community for events. Many donations have been made already to help keep the center going and have meals available five times a week for anyone in the community. Tammy Cranford made an announcement that Calera Girl Scouts, Kindergarten through first grade, would be collecting donations to help the center.

“It sounds like this was a blessing in disguise,” said council member Vicki Barkley.

The final performance report for the CDBG-08 sewer project was given. However, the approval of the final invoice and the final acceptance was held for the next meeting until the project clean up is completed.

The council also conducted the following business:

— Tabled action on a claim filed with OMAG for damages to Mr. Cole Guidinger’s vehicle. The claim was denied by OMAG. The council had a tie vote as a result of an absent member and will revisit the discussion next month.

— Approved to have Tonner Street from Fifth Street to Sixth Street opened up to allow James Burnett to build three houses on the block.

— Approved the Regional Food Bank to put donation boxes in city hall for the holiday season.

— Approved the pay off of the 2008 Crown Victoria and 2008 Ford Ranger in the amount of $15,404.22.

— Approved purchase of a 2010 Crown Victoria.

— Accepted the money from the REAP grant for the severe weather siren.

— Approved D Street as the location for the new weather siren to be placed.