Wilson County committee approves interlocal MOU, grants for law enforcement and jail equipment, moves forward with five-year Axon body-camera plan

Wilson County committee members on Dec. 5 approved a series of measures backing county law-enforcement recruitment, jail equipment upgrades and a multi-agency operations agreement.

The committee approved an interlocal memorandum of understanding (MOU) intended to combine county, WEMA and 911 operations into a shared communications structure. Landry, who presented the item, said the MOU was drafted with Mayor Denons, Billy Cooper and Karen Moore and had already passed the WEMA board. "We've been in discussion ... to combine all 3 entities in the same field," Landry said, and asked the committee to forward the MOU to the 911 board with the agreed funding framework. The committee voted to approve the interlocal agreement by voice vote.

Landry also presented a $200,000 grant from the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy aimed at recruiting and retaining certified officers. "We have been awarded, $200,000," Landry said, and requested permission to accept the award and to allocate $40,000 in the first year for salary supplements for cadets currently in the academy. The committee moved and approved acceptance of the grant and the separate line-item transfer to allocate $40,000 for supplements; Landry said the award is structured across multiple years and the $40,000 represents the first-year allocation.

Separately, Landry requested approval to accept a $355,000 reimbursement grant from the Tennessee Department of Health for jail-related purchases including personal protective equipment, inmate supplies, two washers and dryers, a transport van and a Guardian Watch reporting system. "It's a reimbursement grant," Landry said, adding that the county is collecting quotes and would return with final bids for specific purchases. The committee approved acceptance of the reimbursement grant.

The committee also approved moving forward with a five-year body-camera agreement through Axon. Landry said the plan has a multi-year payment structure and that the first year would be paid from a grant; Glover seconded the motion. "This is an agreement for a 5 year plan," Landry said. The committee approved the motion and agreed staff will address budgetary details as the contract proceeds to the budget process.

Landry presented a list of five county vehicles to be declared surplus because of high mileage—several vehicles showing more than 200,000 miles—and the committee approved declaring the vehicles surplus and making them available for sale.

Procedural business included the approval of the meeting minutes and the opening and immediate closing of the public-comment period after no speakers came forward. The committee adjourned after completing the scheduled agenda.

Votes at a glance
- Approval of minutes: adopted by voice vote.
- Interlocal MOU (forward to 911 board): approved by voice vote.
- Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy grant ($200,000): accepted by voice vote; approved $40,000 first-year supplement transfer.
- Tennessee Department of Health reimbursement grant ($355,000): accepted by voice vote; final purchases subject to quotes/bids.
- Axon five-year body-camera plan: authorized to proceed; first-year funding described as paid from grant funds.
- Five vehicles declared surplus: approved by voice vote.

Next steps and context
Staff will forward the interlocal MOU to the 911 board for further action, submit required grant acceptance paperwork to state agencies, and return to the committee with final quotes and bid recommendations for reimbursable jail equipment purchases. The body-camera contract's detailed budgetary impacts will be handled during the county's budget process.