Workshop reviews budget timing, ALPR camera purchase and multiple T-DOT and sewer contracts

At its May 28 workshop the Board of Mayor and Aldermen reviewed several consent-agenda contracts and infrastructure items and discussed timing for final budget adoption.

Budget and tax rate: The board revisited ordinance 2026-08 (annual budget and tax rate for July 1, 2026June 30, 2027) and discussed the absence of the state-certified property tax rate from Rutherford County at the time of the workshop. Staff outlined options: approve the budget referencing the certified rate once provided, defer approval and call a special meeting before the end of June, or approve now with language deferring the certified rate to the property assessor. Several members favored approving the budget subject to the certified rate to avoid payroll and billing disruptions; staff said the certified rate is intended to be revenue-neutral and expected to be available before tax billing in October.

ALPR cameras: The consent agenda included a proposed Omnia contract to purchase a Flock automated license-plate recognition (ALPR) camera system from Flock Group, Inc. A member raised privacy concerns; staff responded that the system records license-plate images (not photographs of people), supports investigation and public-safety uses (the vendor's trial helped recover a kidnapped child by using a national database), and that the city ran a 60-day trial prior to purchase consideration.

Contracts, software and equipment: The board reviewed a master services agreement for GWorks public works software (annual cost $8,193, a $390 yearly increase) to manage work orders and fleet. Members reviewed two T-DOT contracts tied to the Bane Drive industrial access project: contract 9646 for sewer improvements ($957,215.27) and contract 9653 for water improvements (deposit listed at $615.48; total $725,648.72); staff indicated these will be paid from bond proceeds. The board ratified a two-year T-DOT maintenance contract for Mercury'sboro Road ($59,128.92).

Sewer and road projects: Change order #5 to the Upper Cheney Woods interceptor sewer segments increased the contract by $57,763.12 for a revised final contract near $5,952,229.80; staff said this corrected a prior pay-app error and should finalize payout. The board also approved additional right-of-way acquisition services for the South Walron Road widening project ($36,300) and design-phase amendments ($14,925) tied to the same project; members noted recurring cost additions as projects near construction.

Other items: The board reviewed a memorandum of understanding with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and Tennessee Highway Safety Office to receive two SOAX mobile oral-fluid testing machines for initial drug screening; staff said upfront costs are covered by TBI/THSO and subsequent maintenance/materials would be the city's responsibility. The workshop also listed routine surplus property resolutions and a request to write off water bad debts totaling $129,487.85.

Next steps: Multiple items discussed at the workshop are scheduled for formal consideration at the board's next meeting, including the budget vote, the Flock ALPR purchase and the consent-agenda contract approvals.