Aliceville council awards $772,564 TAP contract, OKs $48,200 backhoe purchase and police recruitment bonuses

The Aliceville City Council on April 14 accepted a low bid of $772,564.68 for a federally funded TAP (Transportation Alternatives Program) project and approved several budget and personnel measures, including a purchase of a used backhoe and a police recruitment incentive plan.

Chair opened the meeting at 5 p.m. and read the engineer's tabulation for TAP grant TA25906, noting four bids were received. "Apex Civil Construction LLC had the lowest bid in the amount of $772,564.68," the chair said, and recommended the council accept the low bid as advised by the city engineer. The council voted to accept the bid as presented.

The council also authorized the purchase of a used 2019 Caterpillar backhoe listed at $48,200 for the street department. The chair said the unit had been inspected by the city mechanic and that financing terms discussed included a 3.5% interest rate over five years. A motion to approve the purchase was made, seconded and approved.

Council members debated and approved restarting a police incentive program aimed at recruiting and retaining officers. The program discussion described two tiers of incentives: a larger bonus for already-certified officers and a smaller payment for newly certified officers. "That amount would be $4,500 for the officers that currently have certification," the chair said during discussion; the transcript also referenced a $2,000 figure for new officers at an earlier point in the discussion. After an amendment to make the program retroactive for officers hired within the past year, the council voted to adopt the incentive program as amended.

The chair said the police incentive would be funded from the police budget and explained that prior agreements include a buyout clause requiring repayment if an officer leaves before the agreed service term. The council did not specify the long-term duration of the program in today's discussion; the minutes show the council agreed to include the incentive in upcoming budgets and to revisit its duration as staffing levels change.

Members also heard a report that the city is applying for a USDA grant to replace a well control panel; bids for that project are due May 12, 2026, at 5 p.m., and no council action was required at the meeting. The council presented a proclamation declaring April 2026 Child Abuse Prevention Month and approved it by voice vote.

In other business the council honored Charles Davis for 30 years of service on the Aliceville Water Department board; Davis thanked the mayor and council. The chief gave a public-safety update, reporting 51 calls year-to-date (including ambulance responses, two house fires and four grass fires) and reminded residents of a state fire alert that restricts open burning in city limits.

The chair reiterated that the council will place a measure on the May ballot to add $10 to each vehicle tag to secure dedicated funding for the Aliceville Ambulance service. During discussion council members cited an illustrative revenue estimate of roughly $235,000 annually and discussed current ambulance payroll costs; the chair said the measure would ensure those funds were used only for ambulance service. The meeting concluded after routine accounts-payable approval and a motion to adjourn.

Actions taken at the meeting will appear in the official minutes; the council did not provide detailed long-term funding projections or an implementation timeline for the police incentive program during this session.