Tuscaloosa City Council Meeting – September 30, 2025

The Tuscaloosa City Council convened on September 30, 2025, at 6:00 PM to conduct regular business and a public hearing on the proposed revocation of the business license of Guns and Ammo LLC. The meeting included the approval of several consent agenda items, routine resolutions, and a lengthy evidentiary hearing regarding allegations of code violations and public safety concerns. After hearing testimony from the city attorney, law enforcement, the licensee, and over a dozen public speakers, the council voted 4–2 against revocation, allowing the business to retain its license.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes – Unanimous approval of prior meeting minutes.
• Demolition Order – Ordered demolition of two trailers and accessory buildings at 881 Wiley Road due to 49 housing code violations; owner notified of cost backcharge.
• Restaurant Retail Liquor License – Approved for El Agave Mexican Bar and Grill (1800 McFarland Blvd E, Suite 430). Hours: 7 days a week, 11 AM–10 PM. No objections from police.
• Special Events Retail Licenses – Approved for Party Down LLC (Pi Kapp Phi formal) and the Alabama Wildlife Federation Wild Game Cook-Off (fundraiser).
• Public Works Contracts – Tentatively awarded to Price Civil Services Inc.; professional services agreements with CSL Services Inc.; real estate sales contract with Nelda P. Goldsmith; donations accepted by Tuscaloosa Fire Rescue.
• Professional Services & Minor Public Works – Contracts approved with Grow Marketing LLC, Freeman Sheet Metal Inc., Jacob Applied America Inc., Main Stage Theatrical Supply Inc., Meeks Environmental (as-needed FY2026).
• Joint Funding Agreements – Approved with USGS Water Resources Division for North River, Lake Tuscaloosa, and Cribbs Mill Creek.
• Tourism & Sports Commission – Funding agreement with Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports Commission.
• FY2026 Budgets & Fund Reserves – Established General Fund reserve, Water & Sewer reserve, and Elevate Tuscaloosa fund budgets; authorized expenditure capability for facility renewal funds.
• Agency Funding Contracts – Authorized execution of FY2026 agency funding contracts.
• Opioid Settlement Funds – Appropriated funds to Freedom Farm Inc. and Phoenix House Inc. (one “no” vote on Freedom Farm).
• Pay Plan – Suspended step raises for FY2026 and amended Section 19‑42 exhibit D.
• Code Amendments – Amended Chapter 7 of the Tuscaloosa Code; amended Sections 16‑90 and 16‑156.
• FY2026 Budgets Adopted – General Fund, Water & Sewer Fund, and Elevate Tuscaloosa Fund all adopted.
• FY2025 Budget Amendment – Amendment No. 19 to the FY2025 General Fund budget adopted.

Public Comments & Testimony (Business License Revocation Hearing)

• 12 written public comments were received online (reported by clerk).
• Michael Ledbetter (710 55th Ave E, Summerfield) – Former business owner and employee: described Josh Wakefield as a “stickler for fine details” and honest businessman; urged council not to revoke license.
• Rex Piggott (part-time employee) – Denied being manager; stated Wakefield only asked for paperwork to be done correctly; claimed Investigator Kervin had a personal problem with Wakefield and that the arrest was retaliation for “making him mad.”
• Chris Moah (2315 9th St, Tuscaloosa) – Longtime customer and friend: called Wakefield “one of the straightest arrows” and said the business is part of what’s good about Tuscaloosa.
• Justin Williams (8028 Keynes Mill Rd, Cottondale) – Customer: noted Wakefield has never been arrested; described him as a good guy who turns away suspicious sales.
• Derek Collins (address not given) – Argued the business had a clean record for six years; called the police actions “harassment” and said the 10‑day hold charge was inapplicable because guns were being held; urged council not to become a “weapon of intimidation.”
• Chris Times (15092 Clements Rd, Cottondale) – Customer: treated fairly, felt safe; found charges appalling.
• Jamie Fannon (North Side Rd, Northport) – Childhood friend of Wakefield: attested to his honesty and by‑the‑book operation.
• Travis Hallman (5804 15th St E, Cottondale) – Current employee: said Wakefield trained him to follow rules; mistakes were lessons learned, not current practice; noted ATF compliance and a U.S. Marshal as customer.
• Owen Skinner (1512 Heritage Dr, Tuscaloosa) – Retired banker and 26‑year military veteran: spoke to Wakefield’s character and urged council to consider livelihood and community contribution.
• Karen Wakefield (1826 37th St NE, Tuscaloosa) – Family member: affirmed Wakefield’s respectful treatment of customers.
• Wakefield’s father (address not given) – Described son’s community service (taking kids flying, birthday parties) and argued police mishandled evidence.
• Ronald Lewis (U.S. Naval Officer, 43 years) – Emphasized presumption of innocence and urged council to judge character based on Wakefield’s record, not allegations.
• Forrest Fitz (Bologna, AL) – Said he never bought or sold firearms from Wakefield but considered him trustworthy and attentive to detail; asked council to consider seriousness of revoking a livelihood.

Discussion Items

• Business License Revocation Hearing – Guns and Ammo LLC
  • City Attorney’s Case (Mr. Cheshire): Presented evidence that Guns and Ammo failed to comply with secondhand dealer ordinances (not uploading photos, not holding guns 10 days), sold stolen guns to customers, and bought a firearm from a convicted felon after being warned. Alleged that the owner, Joshua Wakefield, had a history of noncompliance dating to 2016 and attempted to have law enforcement trespassed during an investigation. Argued that the business posed a public safety risk and that 26 municipal citations were not “bad bookkeeping.”
  • Witnesses:
    • Investigator Jeffrey Kervin (TPD/FBI Safe Streets Task Force): Testified about the 2018 stolen gun sale that led to an innocent customer’s arrest; the 2025 investigation of convicted felon Christopher Collins; the purchase of a fifth gun from Collins after being told he was a felon; and the manager’s attempt to trespass officers on August 7, 2025. Also noted that after the search warrant, no stolen guns were found, but 28 firearms were seized for record‑keeping violations.
    • Chief Brent Blankley (TPD): Said the large number of officers at the search warrant was for safety and efficiency; stated he had a “strong opinion” that the license should be revoked, citing the purchase from a known felon, interference with law enforcement, and 26 violations.
  • Licensee’s Case (Attorney Josh Swords and Joshua Wakefield):
    • Argued that Guns and Ammo operated for 13 years with no incidents since 2019; that the business brought in over $8.8 million in sales and paid $240,000 in taxes.
    • Wakefield testified that before August 4, 2025, there was no legal way to check if a gun was stolen or if a seller was a felon; that the 10‑day hold guns were found in the safe, not sold early; and that the missing photo uploads were clerical errors that were later corrected.
    • Claimed Investigator Kervin had a personal animosity; showed video of the trespass attempt, which he characterized as a misunderstanding by an employee; and noted that he voluntarily provided the requested video the next day.
    • Wakefield’s father testified that the search warrant was executed with guns drawn and that officers unplugged cameras, causing damage.
  • Council Questions:
    • Council members asked about the 10‑day hold charges (guns were in the safe at the time of the search) and whether the city had attempted any alternative resolution (no agreement was reached).
    • City attorney clarified that the 2019 letter from Wakefield’s attorney stated noncompliance with the ordinance, and that the felony conviction of Collins was a Class A felony (armed robbery) making him ineligible to possess firearms.

Key Outcomes

• Business License Revocation Vote – The council voted 4–2 to deny the revocation of Guns and Ammo’s business license. (Voting: Mr. Eatman – No; others – No; Mr. Lanier absent; total 4 No, 2 Yes.)
• All Consent Agenda Items – Adopted unanimously.
• Demonstration of Demolition – Approved.
• Liquor Licenses – Approved for El Agave, Party Down LLC, and Wild Game Cook-Off.
• Budgets and Contracts – All resolutions adopted as listed.
• Next Steps – The council adjourned at approximately 8:45 PM. The municipal court citations against Wakefield and manager Piggott remain pending.