the Selma Times-Journal

After some heated debate Monday night, the Selma City Council rejected a proposal to spend $250,000 on heavy equipment to provide curbs and gutters throughout the city.

But minutes late, the council turned around and agreed to spend more than $700,000 to upgrade police department software, provide for training and other equipment.

At one point, a majority of the council wanted to write the software out of the police department request, but an impassioned plea by chief William Riley III changed the minds of the council.

Mayor James Perkins Jr. said the police software wouldn&8217;t be compatible with the city financial department, making back-up of the system impossible.

The council voted down a proposal to upgrade the software in the city&8217;s financial department.