Surveillance cameras 'tabled indefinitely'
The Libby City Council voted unanimously Monday to put to rest the mayor’s controversial proposal of placing surveillance cameras on Mineral Avenue to solve downtown vandalism.
Most of the 40-plus citizens that attended the meeting did so to express their disapproval of Mayor Doug Roll’s plan to ask business owners to share the cost of purchasing and installing cameras on the four blocks between Lincoln Boulevard and Third Street.
“I feel that the taxpayer should not be burdened for this project and I ask the council to end the debate on this,” Libby resident Alan Kahnt said during the “hear the public” portion of the meeting.
Kahnt said he believed the cost was too high and that if business owners wanted security systems, they should install their own.
Dan Hall, owner of Libby Chiropractic Center on Mineral Avenue, expressed fear that setting up a few cameras on four blocks could precipitate more cameras in more places – what he believes is an invasion of privacy.
“What starts off as a little still camera on Third Street today – it’s the camel nose under the tent,” Hall said.
Roll limited public discussion on the issue, he said, because of redundancy. He asked the crowd if anyone had a positive comment about the proposal.
No one spoke up.
Roll first introduced his idea during his “state of the city” address during a January chamber of commerce luncheon.
Police Chief Jim Smith revealed at Monday’s meeting that the city could set up six to eight still cameras on Mineral Avenue for less than $10,000. The equipment would take up to 10 high-resolution photos per second, and be equipped with timers and motion detectors to help save on memory cost.
Roll asked the council to allow him to continue pursuing the issue. D.C. Orr made a motion to table the issue indefinitely, Vicky Lawrence seconded and it passed unanimously without discussion.
Clapping and cheering ensued after Roll announced, “So, folks, it’s been tabled indefinitely.”
In other news at Monday’s meeting:
• Smith announced that officer Terry Watson graduated from the Montana Law Enforcement Academy on March 25.
• The council approved an updated version of the rules for renting out the Fred Brown Pavilion.
• The council passed a resolution to approve a letter of support for the proposed Montanore Mine.
• The council agreed to pay the Lincoln County Planning Department $2,500 annually to serve as a consultant on planning issues and to help draft a growth policy.
• City Administrator Jim Hammons gave updates on the Thomas Street water main replacement and Cabinet Heights sewer project. He also proposed that the city begin to charge businesses at least $2 per 1,000 gallons of water pumped from the river, instead of $100 per year, to offset the cost of electricity and of pump maintenance. Hammons is also looking into the potential for deriving electric power from Flower Creek Dam.