Nathan Prewett, For the Tribune
MOODY – The Moody City Council approved two grants for the Fire Department during a brief regular meeting on Monday, Oct. 23.
Fire Chief Larry Horton on 10-23-2023 (Credit: Nathan Prewett)
Fire Chief Larry Horton commended Lt. James Mulkey on his success in securing two nonmatching grants from the 2023 Homeland Security Grant Program. The grants total $66,130.
Both grants will be used for trailers and a utility task vehicle or UTV. The first is a $22,380 grant for a fully enclosed trailer that has a “large” complement of barricade equipment.
The second is $43,750 for a trailer that is also fully enclosed but comes along with a six-personnel UTV. Horton said that it will include lights, a mobile radio and a SKED unit that will be able to transport patients out of remote areas.
He added that it will be able to carry up to 70 gallons of water, a pump and a hose reel used for fire suppression in remote areas such as woods fires, landfills and others.
“Both are needed items,” he said. “Both of these grants are through (the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency or ALEA) and the ALEA grant guidelines will be followed along with the competitive bid laws as needed.”
Horton answered a question that Mayor Joe Lee had about using the barricade trailer for other purposes and in other places.
“The way we were able to secure both of these grants is a big portion of it was due to the fact that we stressed that it would be available countywide for whatever is needed,” Horton said. “In other words, if a tornado hit Odenville, we would be willing to take our barricade, we would be willing to take our UTV and go and help out. And so that’s a big plus.”
Later the council approved an agreement with St. Clair County to divide the costs of installing a traffic light in the area of Kelly Creek Road in and around the bridge where the road crosses over the I-20 highway.
The overall cost is $300,000 with the city of Moody to pay $75,000, the county to pay the same amount and the Alabama Department of Transportation or ALDOT to pay for the rest.
In other business, the council:
- Approved a request from Police Chief Reece Smith to purchase two stationary cameras at the City Park and one Flock camera on Park Avenue for $6,250 per year,
- Approved advertising and hiring to replace a full-time police officer position,
- Approved a request from Horton to purchase an MSA Altair 4 gas detector for $1,800,
- Approved hiring for an IT administrator for the city,
- Accepted the public streets in the Creels Crossing subdivision for upkeep and maintenance.
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.
