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Normal council approves $194,288 purchase of modular vehicle barrier system for event security
Summary
The council approved spending $194,288 to buy modular vehicle barriers aimed at protecting Uptown events; police described units as having a 50+ year life expectancy, transportable storage at public works, and capacity to stop tested high‑speed heavy vehicles.
The Normal Town Council on April 6 approved the purchase of a modular vehicle barrier system from Advanced Security Technologies for $194,288 to harden event footprints and reduce vehicle‑into‑crowd risks.
Council member Karen Smith pulled the item from the omnibus agenda to ask about life span, storage and capacity. Police representatives said the units have a projected 50‑plus year life expectancy, can be trailered and stored at the public works facility on Warner Street, and when deployed as a straight line cover roughly 10 lanes; they can also be staggered and configured to create pedestrian egress points.
When asked what the barriers had been tested to stop, the police representative said the system was tested against a semi‑trailer traveling at 50–60 miles per hour and was able to obstruct the vehicle. "They're able to effectively obstruct a semi sized vehicle traveling at high rates of speed," the officer said in response to council questions.
The council approved the waiver of the formal bidding process and the purchase by roll call; the vote was recorded as 'Aye' from Council members Preston, Lorenz, Byers, Roberson, Karen Smith and Mayor Koos. The town will store the units at the public works facility and use them for typical Uptown festival footprints; staff said additional measures would be considered if event footprints grow.
