Charleston finance committee approves vehicle purchases, camera contract extension and $2.6M budget amendment

The City of Charleston Finance Committee approved five resolutions at its April 6 meeting, authorizing multiple vehicle purchases, a three-year extension for body-worn police cameras, and a $2.6 million amendment to the FY2025 general fund budget.

The committee chair called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m., confirmed a quorum with Clerk Nikki present and dispensed with the reading of prior minutes by unanimous consent. The committee then considered a series of procurement and budget items.

Mr. Michaud, a city staff presenter, explained Resolution 26-38 would authorize the mayor and city manager to purchase a 2026 Chevy Express cargo van for the Charleston Police Department from Mid State Auto and said the city intends to bid upfitting for that van together with another unit already budgeted for FY2027 so both upfitting contracts can be procured together. The committee adopted Resolution 26-38 by voice vote.

On Resolution 26-39, Mr. Michaud told the committee Motorola Solutions offered a three-year extension of the existing body-worn camera agreement "at the exact same price that we're currently paying" if the city agrees to early renewal. The transcript lists an annual figure transcribed as "$127,600.680 dollars annually" and a three-year total transcribed as "$383,040." The police department supported the extension; the committee approved the contract extension by voice vote.

Resolution 26-40 would authorize ordering two 2027 dump trucks from Worldwide Equipment (vendor quote pending from the National Auto Fleet competitive contract). Mr. Michaud said the quoted price—$183,757 per unit, $367,514 total—was for vehicles budgeted next fiscal year and that delivery and payment would occur after the July 1 budget year begins. The committee adopted the resolution.

Mr. Woods presented Amendment No. 7 to the FY2025 general fund budget (Resolution 26-41), describing $2,600,000 from the fund balance to close out the prior fiscal year and to fund multiple needs. He listed allocations including continuation of the Charleston Urban Works/Canal City liaison position, summer youth jobs (with rollover for 2027), supplemental development services and demolition/property maintenance (including insurance receipts noted), approximately $1,000,000 to supplement the paving cycle to bring total paving funding to just over $5,000,000 (including expected state grant match), a TAP grant match for the Elk River Trail, an assistance-to-firefighters grant match for firehouse exhaust systems, $100,000 for stadium renovation/maintenance, $750,000 for internal demolition work at the Public Safety Center ahead of full construction, and $150,000 to supplement jail fees for the year to date. The committee discussed the rise in municipal prisoner counts briefly; Mr. Woods said municipal court validates prisoner days but did not provide a causal explanation. The committee adopted the budget amendment by voice vote.

Finally, the committee approved Resolution 26-42 to purchase and upfit seven vehicles for the street department, public grounds, parks and recreation and other divisions after a competitive bid process; Mr. Michaud said the total cost for those seven vehicles was $578,791. The committee closed the meeting after receiving no further business.

Votes at a glance: Resolution 26-38 (purchase: 2026 Chevy Express cargo van) — adopted; Resolution 26-39 (Motorola body-worn camera contract extension) — adopted; Resolution 26-40 (two 2027 dump trucks) — adopted; Resolution 26-41 (FY2025 budget Amendment No. 7, $2,600,000 from fund balance) — adopted; Resolution 26-42 (seven trucks and upfits, $578,791) — adopted.

The committee took only voice votes; the transcript does not record roll-call tallies or dissenting votes. The chair adjourned the meeting after no further business was raised.