Gadsden City Council approves budget transfers, contracts and grants including SS4A engineering agreement and campground security

The Gadsden City Council on Feb. (date not specified) adopted a package of ordinances and resolutions that moved money for police vehicles, authorized engineering and security contracts, approved a landfill contract change order and awarded a paving materials bid, among other actions.

The measures collectively involve federal grant requirements, city matching funds, and purchases intended to support public safety, parks and street maintenance. Council members unanimously approved each item on voice votes recorded in the meeting minutes.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance (first presented at first reading last week) transferring $275,000 from the opioid settlement fund to the equipment account to purchase police vehicles; adopted (voice vote: unanimous).
- Resolution reappointing Ali Causey, Helene Howler and Mamta Mishra to the Gas and Cultural Arts Foundation, terms expiring 11/01/2028; adopted (unanimous).
- Resolution appointing Jennifer McGriff to the Gadsden Museum of Fine Arts board to replace Ricky Ray, term expiring 12/31/2027; adopted (unanimous).
- Resolution, Change Order No. 1 for Bid No. 3552 (landfill cover dirt project): increase of $29,150, raising the Bedwell and Horton Excavating LLC contract to $121,400; adopted (unanimous).
- Resolution authorizing an agreement with AECOM Technical Services Inc. for engineering services to complete a safety action plan required by the federal Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant; estimated fee $327,415, SS4A is an 80% federal/20% local match; adopted (unanimous).
- Resolution authorizing an agreement with Vector Security for access-control services at Nakalula Falls Campground: $156.80 per month for three years; adopted (unanimous).
- Ordinance authorizing up to $3,200 in discretionary funds to Gadsden City High School for student-section T-shirts for the regional basketball tournament; adopted after suspension of rules (unanimous).
- Ordinance transferring $40,000 from the economic development fund balance to purchase property at 2510 Rainbow Drive for a "Welcome to Gadsden" sign; adopted after suspension of rules (unanimous).
- Resolution amending city policies on use of city vehicles (applies to personally assigned, take-home and non-personally assigned vehicles), intended to maintain insurance compliance and improve competitiveness for hiring police officers; adopted (unanimous).
- Resolution authorizing application to the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) for Land and Water Conservation Fund grant assistance to develop a splash pad at Joseph T. Robinson Park; project budget described as roughly $1,000,000 with a 50% local match; adopted (unanimous).
- Resolution amending Chapter 7 of the employee handbook (work hours/attendance) including provisions for sale of vacation time effective this October; adopted (unanimous).
- Resolution authorizing a mutual-aid agreement between the Gadsden Police Department and the Glencoe Police Department for street crimes and narcotics cooperation; adopted (unanimous).
- Resolution awarding Bid No. 3593 to Vulcan Materials for asphalt mix to support street paving; adopted (unanimous).

What council members discussed

Council members generally handled the items with brief explanations and voice votes. Councilmember remarks provided context on several items: the AECOM contract was identified as necessary to meet SS4A grant requirements and the city’s 20% local share; the Vector Security contract was presented as a measure to reduce vandalism and secure campground facilities following damage reported during construction; and the landfill change order reconciled construction pay items.

Mayor Ford used his remarks later in the meeting to highlight the city’s broader priorities tied to the actions, including an expanded in-house paving effort and a neighborhood cleanup initiative. “We’re blitzing one area at a time,” Mayor Ford said, describing Operation Spring Cleaning and related work the city is scheduling across council districts.

Public and partner remarks

Etowah County Commissioner Craig Enser attended and praised recent economic development outreach, saying, “I believe that today … Etowah County and the seat of Etowah County, which is Gadsden, is well represented.”

Gil Iswell, speaking for the Gadsden Kiwanis Club, noted the club’s fundraising history: “We’ve raised and donated over $2,000,000 to local children’s charities,” and encouraged attendance at the club’s pancake-day fundraiser this weekend.

Why it matters

Several approvals touch public safety and infrastructure: the opioid-settlement transfer funds police patrol vehicles; the AECOM contract advances a federally funded roadway safety plan that requires city matching funds; the Vulcan Materials award and the city’s new paving-equipment purchases aim to speed local street repairs; and the campground security contract addresses vandalism and public-access infrastructure at a recently developed city site.

What the council did not decide

For items tied to outside approvals the council authorized applications or contracts (for example, the ADECA/LWCF grant and the SS4A safety-action plan). Those items remain subject to federal/state grant approvals and standard procurement or contract execution steps. The council’s votes authorized the city to proceed with contract negotiations, grant applications and budget transfers; none of the items reported an unresolved dissent or failed motion at the meeting.

Looking ahead

Mayor Ford announced additional community events and initiatives tied to the council’s actions, including a citywide cleanup day April 25 and an upcoming Court Amnesty Day in March. City staff will proceed with executing the approved contracts and completing the grant application steps required by federal and state funders.