Grambling ponders free emergency notification system

GRAMBLING – If everything goes as planned, Grambling residents could be able to opt into a free emergency notification system later this summer.

The CivicReady Alert System offers citizens a variety of ways to receive local emergency weather information, public safety alerts, informational notifications, and any incident that requires rapid response and communication.

Grambling officials are in the beginning stages of exploring the system “but so far things look very favorable,” City Councilman John Brown, Jr., said during Thursday’s City Council meeting.

“It’s a system that can ensure our capacity to communicate with the citizens of Grambling and will be used to notify residents of critical emergencies and routine notifications at a high rate of speed,” he said.

The system will be able to send out targeted messages for situations pertaining only to a specific area of the city, such as utility outages.

Residents can get alerts by email, text message, voicemail, social media, and a mobile app.

“This is really needed in our community,” Mayor Alvin Bradley said. “This will keep us connected and informed.”

The mass notification system would cost the city about $3,200 annually.

Brown said after the meeting he hopes the system can be in place by August if the council concurs. A sign-up drive will be held as soon as the system is operational, he said.

In other action, the council set a public hearing for 5:45 p.m. July 6 — that’s the next council meeting —on an amendment to the city’s simple possession of marijuana ordinance.

The proposed change, introduced Thursday night, will bring the ordinance in line with a 2021 state law that decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana. Under the law, possession of less than 14 grams of marijuana is punishable by a $100 fine and no jail time.

Grambling’s current ordinance calls for a $1,000 fine and an arrest.

“It doesn’t matter how many times they’re caught with less than 14 grams of marijuana, they’re still going to be subject to a fine and/or community service,” City Attorney Ronald Lattier told the council. “ Arrest is no longer a viable option. If it’s less than 14 (grams), they’re issued a summons and simply come to court and pay the fine. The amendment will put us in accordance with Louisiana law.”

The council will vote on the amendment July 6.