Mayor announces 3‑year jail contract with county at $30 per inmate-night and multiple community updates

Mayor Paul Ford provided several community and intergovernmental updates during council remarks. He said that the city and Sheriff Jonathan Horton negotiated a jail housing contract that the county commission approved shortly before the meeting; the contract sets a rate of $30 per inmate-night for Gadsden and is for three years with a one‑year automatic renewal. Ford said other negotiations remain confidential and that the city will also retain its contract with Calhoun County for long‑term inmate housing as needed. He said the contract’s effective date is July 1.

Ford also announced the city had received word of federal line‑item appropriations requests: he said Congressman Rogers requested $6.3 million for two fire stations (one in Country Club/Clubview and a merged downtown/Noccalula station) to maintain the city’s ISO rating and support dive/water response capability; he also referenced a separate federal request or allocation for Broad Street Bridge work that he attributed to another senator. The mayor cautioned that funds are contingent on Congress passing a budget.

Ford described other items of local interest: a free dumpster day scheduled for Saturday at multiple locations, Riverside Park Fourth of July events with fireworks at 9 p.m., and ongoing work on sports and community facilities. Several council members offered condolences on the passing of former Mayor Sherman Guyton and of the wife of long‑time council member Robert Avery.

Council did not vote on the mayor’s announcements; the jail contract and other items were reported to the council as informational and intergovernmental updates. Ford said the county commission had approved the jail contract about 30 minutes before his remarks and that he received a text confirming the passage.