The Newton Board of Aldermen is putting the community on notice; you will be watched at Wade Park.
The board agreed to allow Mississippi Power to install six security cameras at the Newton park, which has been the target of numerous vandalism incidents over the past few years.
Jay Powell, parks and recreation director for the city, said the new security cameras will be placed at strategic points across the park campus to help deter incidents and catch suspects who would damage city property.
Five cameras would be placed at the following locations: each end of the pavilion, one overlooking the concession stand, one overlooking the basketball court and one overlooking the playground.
“They said they would be very high quality, even at night,” Powell said. “They operate just like installing streetlights. There’s no up front costs.”
Alderman Eric McCalphia said he was concerned that the one camera focused on the basketball court would be sufficient.
Powell said they could add a sixth camera on Oak Street, where they have another power pole. That location would cover that whole area around there, including all areas around the court and along the fence.
Police Chief Harvey Curry recommended that they add the sixth camera on Oak Street.
“I like it,” Curry said. “If you put that one on Oak Street, that will cover a lot. There’s a lot of activity going on around there.”
The cost would be around $350 per month.
Mayor Murray Weems asked if there were other companies that would provide surveillance cameras. While Powell said there were, he added that Mississippi Power’s is providing not only the cameras, but the power and internet access to run the security cameras.
“Mississippi Power’s internet is a whole lot faster than anything you can get around here,” Powell said.
Alderman Bob Bridges asked Powell if Mississippi Power could place cameras in other areas of town that would help the police department patrol the city. Powell said they could install additional cameras around the city as long as they have a power pole at that location. The cost would be at most $57 per camera depending on the quality of the security camera required.
“These are the top of the line cameras,” Powell said. “(Mississippi Power) said they are interested in talking with the police department and discuss what they have.”
“I know we spend a lot of money on Wade Park,” Weems said. “Maybe by doing this, it will help us save some money.”
In other business, the aldermen:
• Will advertise for bids on the city’s sewer rehabilitation project.
• Send a courtesy letter to the property owner of the alley between the post office and Alfa insurance to clean up the alley.
• Approved budget amendments for fiscal year 2019.
• Discussed quotes a 10’x15’ storage building.
• Will pay $3,150 to Neel-Schaffer for the airport improvement project and $4,837.50 for the community development block grant when funds become available.
• Will pay East Central Planning and Development District $3,000 for a CDBG project.
• Discussed quotes to fix a drain running under Newton Mini Storage.
• Tabled accepting bids to repair the Newton Mini Storage building.
• Purchased two tranquilizer guns from Pneu-Dart for $1,551.55. The quote was higher than another quote, but the cost of the Pneu-Dart gun was deemed better because it included cases and holographic scope.
• Will have a budget workshop at 5:30 p.m. July 30.
