By Melanie Patterson

The North Jefferson News



The City of Morris is making very good use of a $75,000 grant that it recently received.

The biggest purchase on the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) grant was two new Dodge Chargers that have been ordered for the Morris Police Department.

Sen. Scott Beason, R-17th, reportedly helped secure the grant for the city.

Morris Mayor Craig Drummonds said the cars would likely be delivered in December.

Another major purchase for the city is a new digital camera system with audio, which includes eight new cameras and several microphones placed at various locations around City Hall.

It also includes a monitor where city officials can watch activity recorded on all cameras at once.

“This level of security at town hall is something we’ve always wanted,” Drummonds said. “Now we will be able to see and hear exactly what’s going on. Security will improve 100-percent at town hall and during court.”

Other items purchased with the grant include:

• a new telephone system including 11 phones, voice mail, a main control, installation and programming

• a new 12-by-16-foot kennel for the police department’s drug dog, Franco

• new, energy-efficient lighting at City Hall, the Morris Fire Department, Morris Senior Center and the Morris City Park

• a John Deere 42-inch-cut, zero-turn-radius lawn mower

• new paint and labor for the council chambers/court room

Drummonds said the improvements give employees and citizens alike a renewed sense of pride in their town hall.