The Morris Town Council is guaging public response on the idea of raising the town’s sales tax to 10 percent.

The council didn’t take any action regarding sales tax at the meeting, but did say the council was listening to public opinion on the matter. The council will discuss the matter further at the next council meeting on Aug. 23.

The idea for a sales tax increase came out of a larger discussion by town leaders about increasing revenue into the town. Other strategies the town is employing are cracking down on businesses who don’t own business licenses, particularly home repair professionals, bringing in a new convenience store and planning a self-contained sewer system that would service businesses.

Construction on the convenience store, to be located at the corner of Morris Majestic Road and U.S. Hwy. 31, should begin in August, according to Morris Mayor Craig Drummonds. However, the construction could some time, and the sewer system is stalled after the Alabama Department of Environmental Management denied the town a nearly $500,000 grant that would have paid for half the construction.

During the council meeting, Morris Police Chief Brian Cochran reported that the town’s police department’s workload had increased significantly, partly due to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office’s announcement last month that it would cease working vehicle wrecks and collisions in an effort to make budget.

“We usually work two-to-three wrecks a month, and that doubled in June to six,” said Cochran. Some of the wrecks were in unicorporated north Jefferson County, and Cochran said its illegal for officers to go outside of their jurisdiction.

He also said Morris police respond to an estimated half of all fire and medical calls in Kimberly.

In other business, the council:

• approved the purchase of emergency medical supplies for the Morris fire department at a cost of about $600.

• announced the town’s new monthly “movie night.” Councilman Joe Pylant said the movies will all be rated G or PG, and concessions could be sold in the future. Movies are shown via projector on a six-foot-by-eight-foot screen at the park in front of town hall. The first movie night was on Thursday. Future dates and times are to be announced.

• voted to allow town clerk Jessica Robb to attend two seminars for town clerks and magistrates, one in Hoover for $250 and one in Tuscaloosa for $235.

• requested Morris police to provide security for the first few Mortimer Jordan High School football games; council members said the sports complex at the new campus would likely not be finished in time, and the games would be played at the former campus in Morris.