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Smithfield council hears updates on repaving, storm prep and pending body-camera grant
Summary
Council members thanked staff for storm-preparation work, discussed upcoming repaving starting Oct. 15, and heard that police body-camera purchases are pending federal grant drawdown; council also discussed drainage planning and truck routing concerns.
Council members used the final portion of the meeting to raise operational and community updates: repaving, storm response, body-camera funding and drainage planning.
Councilmembers reported that the town's annual repaving work will begin Oct. 15 and urged staff to look for ways to maximize paving funds. Multiple members thanked public-works, electrical and police crews for recent storm preparation and cleanup. One councilmember described a late-night crash cleanup on Martin Luther King Drive and publicly thanked staff and police for a swift response.
Police body-camera procurement remains contingent on a federal grant. Councilmember and staff said the town has completed and submitted required paperwork and is awaiting federal approval to begin drawing down funds; once funds are available the police department will move quickly to purchase the equipment.
Members also raised routing issues from large trucks (including Amazon trucks) traveling through neighborhoods and suggested outreach to carriers or routing changes to reduce neighborhood impacts. The mayor asked staff to begin scoping a plan to assess ditches and drainage townwide and to gather quotes if outside contractors will be required.
No formal votes were taken on these operational matters during the meeting; staff committed to follow up on repaving schedules, the federal grant status for body cameras and drainage scoping.
