New $10,000 system has eight motion detection cameras and remote viewing
By Barb Pert Templeton
A new modern digital camera system for the Algonac pool and adjacent facilities including a nearby park, basketball courts, dog park, parking lot and part of Lions Field, was approved by a majority of the Algonac City Council on July 7.
Councilman Ed Carter made the motion to approve the pool security system and was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Dawn Davey. The council then voted 6-1 in favor of the motion with Councilman Michael Bembas casting the only no vote.
“Hooray and we need this, we definitely need this on so many levels, this is a very, very good thing,” Mayor Pro Tem Dawn Davey said during a brief discussion on the purchase.
“Why do we need it?” Councilman Michael Bembas asked.
Councilman Jake Skarbek replied “vandalism.”
Davey replied that the best way to explain it is to look to Marine City and St. Clair and what’s happened around their pools and baseball fields, in reference to recent vandalism there.
Algonac City Councilman Michael Bembas voted against the city spending over $10,000 for a camera security system at the city pool and dog park.
There’s have been similar incidents on the pool grounds in Algonac.
“We’ve had vandalism in the bathrooms, under the gazebo, spray paint inside the walls, so I do think this is a good thing,” Skarbek added.
“Vandalism in the bathrooms, that’s not going to help that, it better not help that,” Bembas said.
“It’s for cameras on the outside of the bathrooms,” Mayor Rocky Gillis explained.
“You can see who comes in and out,” City Manager Artie Bryson added.
Bembas said in order for him to support the plan he wanted to know if they keep the film for 30-days and then destroy it or is it taped over. Bryson said it’s taped over.
“The other thing I’d look at is how’s our budget looking this year are we in the black or red?” Bembas asked.
He added that if the funds are from the 2027 budget is the city manager projecting a negative or positive cash flow then. Bryson said a positive one.
City Councilwoman Wendy Meldrum asked what parts of the budget would fund the purchase. Bryson said it would be out of the general fund and likely be split between the pool and the park.
“I just don’t like the fact that big government is spying on me when I go to the dog park and I’m playing with my dogs and people can look at that; ninety-nine percent of everybody’s honest and we’re going to spend $10,000?”
Algonac Councilman Michael Bembas
“I just don’t like the fact that big government is spying on me when I go to the dog park and I’m playing with my dogs and people can look at that,” Bembas said. “Ninety-nine percent of everybody’s honest and we’re going to spend $10,000. That’s to install it, is there a fee to maintain it?” Bryson said no.
“I look at it this way, we’ve got a $4 million facility that we just built and I’d like to protect it,” Mayor Rocky Gillis said as Skarbek agreed.
Councilman Ed Carter said he had been at the pool after dark the night before and he saw eight kids on mini-bikes underneath the pool and he was concerned about what they might be doing before they drove off.
“There’s good reasons behind this,” Davey said.
Skarbek also pointed out that there is an old camera system in place and they are just replacing it.
Memo spells out specifics of plan
In a memo in the meeting packet from City Manager Artie Bryson and Fire Chief Joseph Doan they wrote that the city currently has no surveillance coverage at the community pool and adjacent park facilities.
Blue Water Audio Video proposes to install a modern digital camera system to enhance security at the pool and will include coverage of the dog park, main parking lot, basketball court and north side of the field.
“I look at it this way, we’ve got a $4 million facility that we just built and I’d like to protect it.”
Algonac Mayor Rocky Gillis
“The addition of a security system will help improve public safety, document accidents/incidents at the pool, protect city property and assets, and provide security,” Bryson wrote.
The city administration recommends approval of the proposal, considering the investment in the pool and surrounding park amenities, as it will offer security for one of the city’s busiest recreation areas.
Blue Water recently provided exceptional service the installation of the audio video system for the council chambers, Bryson noted.
Blue Water Audio Vido is located in Port Huron.
“While this project originated as a pool security upgrade, the proposed camera placement provides surveillance for multiple city recreation assets. The expanded coverage significantly increases the value of the investment by protecting facilities used year-round rather than only during the pool season,” Bryson and Doan, wrote in their memo to the council.
The memo also included the following breakdown of costs:
Cost Summery
Labor & Installation $2,650
Equipment & Materials $7,875
Michigan Sales Tax $472
Total Project Cost: $10,998
