Keeping an eye out

The Saratoga Town Council is requesting public input before purchasing five new security cameras to be used at the Hot Pool and Saratoga Town Hall.

At the January 21 meeting of the governing body, Sergeant Tyler Christen of the Saratoga Police Department provided a quote for five frogeye security cameras. Two would be placed at the Hot Pool, two placed on either side of Town Hall and one inside the council chambers. The estimate for all five cameras is $16,560.20.

“We have had problems outside of both sides of the parking lot as well as down at the hot pool. Ken (Lehr) went down and looked at it and two of them should give us full coverage of the walkways, the parking lot, the swimming pool, the Hot Pool and the Not-So-Hot Pool,” said Suzie Cox, Saratoga Town Clerk.

Mayor John Zeiger added that he believed having cameras down at the Hot Pool was important due to recent activities he felt were “turning into a health and welfare type situation.” Both Christen and Saratoga Police Chief Ken Lehr agreed with Zeiger. 

Lehr further explained that one camera at the Hot Pool would be placed in the northeast corner and would cover the Hot Pool, the Not-So-Hot Pool, the swimming pool and the walkway. The second camera would be placed on one of the light poles in the parking lot and would cover the parking lot, the donation box and the walkway.

“It also allows us to give us some more evidence down there on hot pool violations with a lot of the alcohol. Sometimes, we get a report in where people are like, ‘There’s 20 people down there. There’s drinking and all that stuff down there.’ The officer can check that camera, dispatch can check that camera and improve our situational awareness on how many people are down there and what we can expect to get into down there as well,” said Christen.

Following discussion on the usefulness of the cameras, it was asked by Councilmember Jon Nelson where the funding would come from for the equipment. Councilmember Bob Keel echoed Nelson’s question, stating that he had quickly looked through the budget for Town Hall and little had been budgeted under capital improvements. Nelson added that while there was approximately $4,000 in the Hot Pool budget for maintenance, it was important to conserve that fund.

“What about the impact funding that was designated to the police department?” asked Councilmember Judy Welton

Both Nelson and Keel were keen to Welton’s suggestion with Keel stating that it could be argued that the purchase of the cameras was relevant to enforcement. A motion was made and seconded to further examine where the funding would come from for the five cameras.

“I’d also like, maybe, some public feedback, too. Rather than just putting up a bunch more cameras in town on our residents, allow them the opportunity to weigh in,” said Nelson.

When asked how the public could provide feedback, Nelson replied, “I don’t know about you all, but people know where to find me.”

The motion passed unanimously.

The next meeting of the Saratoga Town Council will be at 6 p.m. on February 4 at Saratoga Town Hall.