(Mount Vernon) Mayor Starr, Police Chief Morgan, City Law Director Broeren and Safety Service Director Saylers please solve the mystery of the eight FLOCK cameras that will remain active beyond Halloween.
The two cameras on Lowe’s property are the least mysterious, likely paid for by Lowe’s.
But four of the cameras owned by unnamed “private and public entities” sit on city property and are along major roads and intersections like the city-owned cameras that will shut down Oct. 25.
Who is paying for them and why?
Befitting Halloween, a fifth FLOCK camera sits mysteriously on what appears to be public property by a cornfield at the Banning/Lower Green Valley intersection, outside of the city limits.
A woman who lives near the farm asks “Why?”
A sixth one on nearby Tilden Avenue, also beyond city limits, may be on private property and appears to be guarding a bunch of large dumpsters by the Kokosing.
The installation of at least the eight city owned cameras was approved secretly a few years ago by Morgan, Broeren, and Saylers. Saylers had plans for more cameras but paused because of the public outcry.
The goal of 15 of the cameras seems to be to make sure all exits and entrances to and from the City are monitored.
The City will not allow any FLOCK or other ALPR cameras on city property once their contract expires.
But why did Morgan, Saylers and Broeren allow them in the first place?
They must be held accountable for the entire continuing FLOCK camera debacle, along with the mayor and city council.
Don Comis
Howard, Ohio
