City to consider Heartland Bank letter of credit to secure Ameren pole camera for safety initiative

City police and staff briefed the committee Sept. 9 on a request to secure a Heartland Bank letter of credit required by Ameren to permit attachment of a security camera to an electric pole as part of the city’s safety initiative. The council placed the item on the regular agenda so the bank can issue the letter after formal council action.

Police staff said Ameren’s attachment process for longer‑term camera installations requires a detailed agreement and a bank letter of credit. The chief said the paperwork amounted to some 20 pages and that Ameren charges an annual pole attachment fee of about $197. The requested bank instrument would be a $500 letter of credit from Heartland Bank to secure the city’s obligations under Ameren’s attachment terms.

Staff explained the camera is intended to cover a location between the 200 blocks of South Kickapoo and South Chicago Street; an earlier plan to route wiring through an older movie theater wall failed because renovations made the walls too thick. The chief said this pole attachment option is the remaining feasible approach for that coverage area.

Treasurer Konza told the committee Ameren requires a council request to enable the bank to issue the letter of credit and that the lack of a council action has delayed the installation. The committee placed the item on the regular agenda in order to meet Ameren’s bank issuance process and move forward with the final camera of the project phase.