GULF SHORES, Alabama — A mobile command post found in Louisiana was just too much of a deal to pass up, Gulf Shores Police Chief Edward Delmore said during a Jan. 9 council work session and meeting.

And while the city didn’t get that particular trailer, the company was able to provide another one very similar and still within range of available money to pay for it.

Delmore said the post would come in handy during the many special events held in the beachside town, as well as tactical situations. In the following regular meeting, the council gave the go ahead to buy the command post.

“We’ve been borrowing a command post whenever we had an event where it is appropriate to have a command post outside of our primary headquarters,’ Delmore said. “This particular opportunity came to light when Baldwin County EMA personnel notified me that a company called Datacom out in Louisiana had this command post, and its one that they used to demonstrate their communications equipment to the oil and gas industry for their own private disaster recovery.”

The tow-behind trailer is a 20-by-8 model with lots of amenities, including heating and air conditioning.

“It has a low-noise generator that is appropriate for our uses, and it also does have the equipment to place five personnel inside along with some items we would need to maintain our personnel,” Delmore said. “The work station area can accommodate a number of people you would typically need to run an operation.”

Delmore said the unit would come in handy at events like concerts, the National Shrimp Festival, road races, tropical events and patrol in the beach patrol district where Delmore says they are trying to increase presence.

“The reason it is available to us is because this company no longer uses this specific equipment, and we believe this is a good move for us because if we were to get this type of equipment, if you were to go out purchase it new, would be in the area of $60,000,” Delmore said. “We’ve negotiated a price from them for about $38,000.”

But another department in Oklahoma received a grant to buy that particular trailer, even though it looked like Gulf Shores might get it.

Not to worry, Delmore says. Even though that didn’t work out, the company has another option for his department.

“Since they’ve realized we are serious, this particular company has the same equipment available and are willing to install it in a new trailer for $42,500,” Delmore said.

The trailer will also have a camera system on the outside, electronic communications inside, computers and room for five officers to work.

Before the council could ask about funding, Delmore said the department could pay for it from impact fees. Those are fees are collected from developers to be used for city services such as the police, fire, public works departments, city officials said.

“The funds are available,” Delmore said. “We have, interestingly enough, $43,000 available to us through impact fees that has to be spent on capital expenditures.”

“He answered the first question last,” Mayor Robert Craft said with a chuckle.