Council to vote on Intellisafe contract, Key Field sewer study

Published 2:48 pm Wednesday, February 25, 2026

The Meridian City Council is expected to vote Tuesday on a contract with technology company Intellisafe to begin using manual radar guns to catch speeders in local school zones.

In a work session Tuesday, Police Chief Malachi Sanders said a traffic study performed by Intellisafe found 93% of motorists exceeded the school speed limit on 23rd Avenue near Meridian High School and 100% of motorists exceeded the limit near Lamar.

Council members in January heard from Intellisafe representatives about the technology and the benefits it can bring to the police department. Sanders said it’s simply not possible, nor is it safe, to make traffic stops on every speeding vehicle. The radar guns, which are outfitted with cameras that capture the vehicle’s license plate and other identifying information, allow one officer to record multiple speeding vehicles, review the data and video later and issue citations through the mail.

“I think it’s a great tool,” he said.

State law prohibits the use of automated systems such as traffic cameras to issue citations, but the radar guns are not automated, Sanders said. An officer must be using the gun for it to capture data, and an officer must review the evidence before deciding whether a citation should be issued.

Intellisafe does not charge the city for the use of its equipment and instead makes money through a diversion program allowing residents to keep a citation off their record. The program costs $230 with $25 going to the state, $75 to the city and $130 going to Intellisafe.

Any fines or fees collected from those who choose to go through the court system with their citation will go to the city of Meridian.

While the city will see some revenue from the technology, Sanders said putting the radar guns to use is first and foremost an effort to increase safety for local students. The true benefit, he said, will be not having to tell a parent that their child was struck by a car on their way to school.

Councilman Elliot Brewer, who works at Lauderdale County School District, said that alone is a huge benefit.

Councilman Tracy Tims said he also supports the effort.

Sanders said MPD plans to put the word out before the radar guns hit the street to educate and warn motorists that the city plans to crack down on speeding in school zones. His department plans to start out with four radar guns and could target other areas with speeding problems if need be.

In other business, the City Council is expected to consider awarding a $440,000 contract to Waggoner Engineering to study the water and sewer infrastructure at the Mississippi Air National Guard base at Key Field. Public Works Director David Hodge said the base’s water comes from the city, and its wastewater is treated by city systems. The city and the base are linked, he said.

Like the city’s infrastructure, the water and sewer lines at Key Field are old, and the National Guard has experienced some issues with broken lines. The analysis will identify water and sewer infrastructure that needs repair to give the city and Guard an idea of how best to move forward.