By Nathan Prewett, For the Tribune
MOODY – Moody City Council held a regular meeting before having a work session where they heard budget reports and requests from department heads on Monday, July 25.
Mayor Joe Lee (Photo by Nathan Prewett)
During the regular meeting, the council passed multiple items on the agenda that were mostly purchase requests from Police Chief Thomas Hunt and Fire Chief Larry Horton.
Among the final two items was a resolution to reimburse the St. Clair County Commission for upgraded traffic light poles that had been installed at Highway 411 and Park Avenue.
The final item was to accept the “Standard Project Resolution and Plans” for a project involving curb ramp installation on State Routes 4,7,23,25,53,75, and 144 in Blount and St. Clair counties.
Following the very brief regular meeting was the work session in which the council heard reports from the library, municipal court, parks and recreation, public works, civic center, administration, senior citizens center, and the police and fire departments.
Department heads reported mostly good news in terms of budget expenses, reporting varying degrees of increases that were often due to inflation, including gas prices.
In his report, Horton mentioned that the radio system for both the fire and police departments has become “pretty much obsolete,” and they will be in need of a new one.
The current system is being phased out, and the county this year elected to upgrade the complete infrastructure by installing towers and implementing new systems. Horton said that the department was looking into Motorola and Kenwood for new radios, with Kenwood being the better option.
He also said that the department will need funds to install fire hydrants for multiple locations throughout the city where there are none. It was suggested that COVID money could be used to purchase the necessary equipment.
Hunt reported a payroll increase in the budget with the addition of three full-time officers in November. In addition, he requested two full-time SRO officers for the schools for security, citing the Uvalde shooting in Texas that occurred recently.
“Unfortunately, the incident in Uvalde, Texas has brought that (to attention) nationwide more than anything to make sure that our schools are protected,” he said.
Additionally, he requested In Car as a new reporting systems and trauma kits to outfit all officers.
In other business, the council:
- Approved Hunt’s request to purchase two Nikon D3500 cameras for detectives for $1,400,
- Approved Hunt’s request to pay St. Clair County for transportation of a deceased body for $550,
- Approved Hunt’s request to purchase ammunition for $1,105,
- Approved Hunt’s request to purchase four new THI evidence kits for $1,897.97,
- Approved Horton’s request to send Inspector James Mulkey to Inspector III class from Sept. 12 to Sept. 16 for $350,
- Approved Horton’s request to send FF/Paramedic Brandon Garner to a vehicle and machinery extrication class on Oct. 24 – Oct. 28 for $350,
- Approved Horton’s request to have the service and maintenance done on the two heart monitors for $3,240,
- Approved Horton’s request to purchase medical supplies for $3,250, and
- Approved Horton’s request to purchase a Pollard Hydrant test kit for $925.
Meetings are held on the second and fourth Monday of every month at 6 p.m. at Moody City Hall on 670 Park Ave.
