Gadsden Council Accepts County Grants, OKs Alabama Power Agreement for License-plate Cameras and Event Barriers

The Gadsden City Council on Tuesday approved county grant funding and a service contract to expand the police department's surveillance and event-management equipment.

Council members voted to accept four grants from the Etowah County Community Development Committee and related district allocations totaling $54,500 for public-safety equipment and approved a separate services agreement with Alabama Power Company to power and maintain three solar license-plate recognition cameras and two poles at $812.52 per month.

Council members said the grants will pay for three Flock brand license-plate recognition (LPR) cameras, new conducted-energy devices and modular barriers for event management. The council recorded voice votes for both measures; the clerk announced the motions carried. The packet listed grant amounts of $19,500, $10,000 and $10,000 from District 28 and an additional $15,000 from District 29 for modular barriers.

The items were presented as part of the council's regular agenda under unfinished and new business. Councilman Wilson moved to consider the resolution for the transportation and other items as new business earlier in the meeting; subsequent motions to adopt the public-safety grant resolution and the Alabama Power services agreement were put to voice votes and passed.

City officials described the county funds as committee allocations that return sales-tax revenue to local projects. The council did not provide a roll-call tally in the minutes; the clerk announced each vote as "aye" and stated the motions carried.

There was no extended public debate recorded on the council floor before the votes. The resolutions list the Gadsden Police Department as the recipient and specify equipment purchases and the monthly service fee to Alabama Power for installation, maintenance and power of the three solar-equipped LPR camera units and two poles.

The council's actions follow the mayor and members' statements earlier in the meeting that the city is pursuing targeted investments in public safety and event infrastructure. The measures are effective immediately as adopted; the contract with the utility specifies the monthly service amount and the grant acceptances authorize staff to proceed with equipment procurement and deployment.

City officials did not provide an estimated implementation schedule for camera installation or specific locations for the devices during the meeting. They also did not provide a detailed procurement timeline for the modular barriers or the exact models of the conducted-energy devices beyond the general descriptions in the agenda packet.

Council members asked residents to remain patient as city departments continue other work delayed by recent heavy rain and staffing demands.

The council's agenda packet and city clerk's office will be the contact points for records on the grant awards and the Alabama Power agreement.