By Nathan Prewett, For the Tribune
MOODY – The Moody City Council awarded the winners of the recent Christmas parade and then accepted a bid to construct a new building for the police department at a meeting on Monday, Dec. 12.
The Moody Christmas Parade took place on Saturday, Dec. 12. Four winners were chosen in the categories of businesses and organizations that took part in the parade as well as the Mayor’s Trophy.
“It was a very successful event,” Mayor Joe Lee said. “We’re thankful for everyone who were in it.”
In first place in the businesses categories were Chris Favors, Bubba Ingram, and Candace Brigman from Line of Fire. Second place was Sara Uribe from Sara’s Creations.
In the organization’s category was First Baptist Church of Moody, which won last year. Michaela Crisler accepted the award. There was no second-place entry in this category.
Winning the Mayor’s Trophy was Iron City Wranglers Jeep Club. Catie Fry accepted the award.
Later in the meeting, the council approved accepting a bid from Camron Construction from Albertville to build a new police station. The company was one among five bidders. The bid was $6,547,849.
In past meetings, Police Chief Thomas Hunt has spoken about the need for a new station due to the current building’s condition. The new building will feature a number of upgrades a gym, safe rooms for children, several training areas, a break room, an expanded evidence room and storage area, a number of different offices, a patrol meeting room, and a sally port for vehicles.
The council also heard reports from the police and fire departments for the month of November. Hunt reported 1,563 calls, 47 arrests, 48 warning tickets, 197 citations, 84 reports written, 85 misdemeanors (closed 70), 24 felonies (closed 14), and police vehicles drove 16,854 miles.
Fire Chief Larry Horton reported that there were 170 responses, nine fires (one residential and eight wood, grass, and rubbish), 89 emergency medical calls, eight wrecks, 17 public service calls, 28 lift assists, 19 false alarms, and mutual aid given once and received two times.
The average dispatch to en route time was two minutes and 50 seconds. The average dispatch to arrival time was seven minutes and 56 seconds. There were 93 overlapping calls. In addition, there were 34 annual inspections, four re-inspections, and one pump inspection.
- Approved a request from Public Works Director Steve Mitchell to repair streetlights and change out with LED lights at each intersection of Carl Jones Road and Highway 411 and at Markeeta Spur Road and Highway 411 for $3,874,
- Approved Mitchell’s request to repair traffic lights (replace two photocells and LED red light at each intersection of County Road 10 and Highway 411) for $1,161.46,
- Approved Mitchell’s request to surplus two vehicles from the Public Works Department,
- Approved Hunt’s request to replace fuel injectors and heater hose car #353 tires for $813,
- Approved Hunt’s request of a payment to Central Communications of $720 for car radar certifications,
- Approved Hunt’s request of a payment to Vetted Security for a license plate reader for $20,774.98 (It was noted that this was a grant that had been awarded to the department and that once payment is received, there will be a full reimbursement to the city,),
- Approved Parks and Recreation Director Mike Staggs’ request to purchase a crawl tube for the playground for $1,108.42, and
- Approved Staggs’ request to repair football lighting for $722.03.
Meetings are held on the second and fourth Monday of every month at 6 p.m. at Moody City Hall on 670 Park Ave.
Nathan Prewett can be reached at nthomasp6@gmail.com.