Russellville City Council approves body cameras for police
The Russellville City Council approved the purchase of 20 cameras for the Russellville Police Department during their meeting Feb. 2.
The BodyCam cameras produced by Pro-Vision will cost a total of $6,020 and that cost will be split between two funds.
The City of Russellville Police Department applied for and received a grant from the FCCDC for $3,000 and the remainder of the cost will be paid for by the Project Star Fund.
Russellville City Mayor David Grissom said this cost was foreseen during earlier budget discussions.
“Chief Hargett and I looked at these options for purchasing the cameras during our budget discussions earlier,” Grissom said. “We knew the budget was going to be tight and this was our best option.”
Grissom said the 20 total cameras to be worn on the bodies of officers accounts for all current Russellville City police officers as well as the planned additional officers to be hired.
The city council also approved an ordinance for a city election to be held April 28 where an ad valorem tax of 7.8 mils will be voted on. The ad valorem tax goes to help fund the city’s school system and was initially passed in 1958.
“The tax was introduced in 1958 and has to be renewed every 30 years,” Grissom said. “This is not a new tax just a continuation of an existing one and is very important part of the funding of our school system.”
The ad valorem tax was last renewed in 1987.
Grissom said the Russellville City Schools System will be paying for the election costs.
“This is a good thing for the system,” Grissom said. “I am a product of the school system, as are my wife, my parents and daughter, Kate is a 4th grader at RES. This funding is essential to continue the tradition of excellence that everyone in Russellville has enjoyed since 1929.”
Other items covered by the city council included:
-declaration of vacancy for an Equipment Operator I in the Russellville Street Department
-waiver of rental fees for the use of the A.W. Todd Centre for use by the Russellville High School baseball team on Feb. 13.
-waiver of rental fees for the use of the A.W. Todd Centre for use by the Russellville Public Library on Feb. 14.
-waiver of rental fees for the use of the A.W. Todd Centre for use by the Russellville City Schools Foundation Board of Directors on May 11.
The next scheduled city council meeting is set for Feb. 16.
