(Graphic Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection - Public Meeting- Council Meeting)

VIENNA — Vienna City Council approved several resolutions regarding equipment for the city’s police and fire departments during Thursday’s regular meeting.

Council received one bid recommendation for a police vehicle and body camera system from Axon Enterprise Inc. for $349,000 to be paid over five years and approved a resolution regarding the system to accept that bid.

A second resolution to pay the first-year payment of $66,473.28 from the city’s opioid settlement funds for the camera system generated extensive discussion. Council members praised the plans for the camera system but some questioned the use of opioid settlement funds, not believing such use to align with the spirit of that funding mechanism.

Mayor Chad Emrick said the issue was reviewed with appropriate officials and found to be legitimate under the rules for using those funds.

A motion to amend the funding resolution for the camera system to use money from the city’s general fund – as was originally budgeted by the city at the beginning of the year – failed on a 3-4 vote. The original resolution to use opioid settlement funds passed on a 5-2 vote.

Council received a bid recommendation for a fire department pumper truck from Atlantic Emergency Solutions Inc. for $1,256,068 and then approved a resolution approving an appropriation for the fire truck purchase in that amount.

The city received two bid recommendations regarding financing for two 2026 Dodge Durango police vehicles, one from United Bank and the other from Huntington Bank. The recommendation for council approval was United Bank for three years at 3.70% for $128,911.68, which was approved.

In other business, council approved a resolution authorizing the City of Vienna to approve litigation strategy recommendations as set out in a Dec. 2 letter from the National Opioid Consortium.

Council also approved a resolution authorizing the donation of $8,500 to the Wood County Prevention Coalition to fund a youth anti-opioids education program and revoking a prior resolution authorizing those funds to Westbrooke Health Services. Emrick said the funding is going to the same program, just through a different venue.

The next regular council meeting, and the first meeting of the new year, will be 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8.

Wayne Towner can be reached at wtowner@newsandsentinel.com