CARBON HILL — The Carbon Hill City Council voted unanimously to hire three new city officials during Thursday night’s regular meeting.

Heath Allred is Carbon Hill’s new police chief, Marilyn Dumpson was appointed as the new city clerk and Rosa McDonald is Carbon Hill’s new magistrate and assistant city clerk.

Mayor Chris Hart said the selection on the three new appointees did not come as an easy decision as many experienced and qualified individuals applied for the positions.

“We originally had fifty applicants for the city clerk job,” Hart said. “During the process, we found we had two excellent candidates in Marilyn and Rosa, so we decided to take both —with Marilyn serving as city clerk, and Rosa as our magistrate and assistant city clerk. We welcome both of them on board and feel they will do a superb job for our city and our citizens.”

Hart said the decision on Carbon Hill’s new police chief was an even tougher decision.

“Twelve outstanding applicants applied, and we had a very tough decision just cutting the list to four,” Hart said. “The four that remained — simply put — would be a great police chief for any city. In the end, Heath stood out well. We have really big plans for Heath in getting things straightened out with our police department, and are extremely proud to have him with us.”

Allred took the opportunity on Thursday to address the citizens in attendance on his appointment as the head of the city’s police chief.

“I would like to thank the mayor, the City Council and the citizens of Carbon Hill for the confidence they have shown in me,” Allred said. “I know many people don’t know me, but I want to assure our citizens that this is their police department. There may have been a decision about who will run it, but my department is here to serve and protect our city. I’m excited about the opportunity to be Carbon Hill’s police chief and getting to know the citizens. My desire is to work with the mayor, the City Council and the community in moving forward for the betterment of the city.”

Allred replaces Robert King, who was dismissed at the conclusion of an Aug. 4 due process hearing. Allred is a long-time law enforcement veteran who has been serving with the Millport Police Department prior to his hiring.

In other actions from the meeting:

•Hart announced that a clean up day will be held on Sept. 11 to help ready the area for “Hillfest” on Sept. 18.

Hart encouraged as many citizens to get involved in the clean up day as possible to contribute and help with the effort.

•Hart also called for more volunteers to get involved in the preparation and operation of “Hillfest”. T-shirts with the “Hillfest” logo are currently available for purchase at $10.

•Hart said he will research prices for a new monument that will be dedicated to the coal miners who helped found Carbon Hill.

The idea was brought to the attention of the city council by Lexi Spivey, a 12-year-old student at Carbon Hill Middle School, who inquired why a monument for the coal miners had never been built.

Hart said he would like to see such a monument built, to honor not only the coal miners of Carbon Hill, but to all of the coal miners of Walker County, who contributed in so many ways to the growth of the county’s communities.