Birmingham City Council approves fire and police gear, delays talk on Titusville supermarket

The Birmingham City Council had a relatively light agenda at its regular meeting for Tuesday, May 2, but members approved funds for some new equipment to help the city’s police and firefighters stay safer, as well as money to do small repairs on a couple of the city’s landmarks.

But they again delayed action on a potentially contentious revocation of the business license for a supermarket located in the Titusville neighborhood in Southwest Birmingham.

Gear for police and firefighters

The council approved a bid from Dana Safety Supply in Jacksonville, Florida, for the Birmingham Police Department to buy some crowd control equipment, including gas masks, canisters, carrying pouches and defense spray. This bid was the lowest of nine, according to the text of the resolution.

Members also approved a bid from Lawmen’s and Shooters, Vero Beach, Florida -- also the lowest of nine bids -- for the BPD’s purchase of riot control suits.

The council also approved a bid from Kenco Fire Equipment in Springfield, Missouri, for the Birmingham Fire Department’s purchase of thermal imager cameras. “When we go into a house, we use these to identify hot spots behind walls,” a BFD spokesman told the council.

All items are to be purchased at unit prices on file with the city’s purchasing agent, according to the resolutions.

Fixes for Sloss and Vulcan

The council approved a proposal from Shook & Fletcher Mechanical Contractors of Birmingham for $44,256 to fix the piping in the cooling pond at Sloss Furnaces.

And Vulcan Painters of Bessemer will be paid $38,550 to reseal the pedestal of the Vulcan Statue.

Another delay

The council voted 8-0 to again delay -- for three weeks -- the continuation of a public hearing begun on April 18 regarding the possible revocation of the business license and off-premise beer and wine license for South West Supermarket at 12 First Ave. SW, near the Loveman Village housing project.

On April 18, after a long discussion and public comment, members voted to delay the item for two weeks. There was no further discussion of the item at the May 2 meeting.

Several Loveman Village residents told the council on April 18 that they wanted the market to remain open because it is a badly needed amenity -- especially for older people without reliable transportation.

Some residents and some council members, including Sheila Tyson, felt that the market should be closed as a public safety issue.

After a spokesman for the police department read a list of incidents that had occurred at the store, Council President Pro Tem Steven Hoyt asked rhetorically, “Is this a supermarket or the OK Corral?”

However, some of the residents said that it was not the fault of the owner that the market seems to be a magnet for crime and drug activity.

Mayor William Bell requested the delay on April 18 to give the city time to determine if the owner “would be willing to commit resources, along with the city, to improve the store” in a way consistent with ongoing plans to improve the projects and the Titusville neighborhood.

According to Tyson, the owner had also expressed a willingness to sell the store.