Willard approves public-safety camera package; city to use state grant for first year

The Willard Board of Alders on Monday authorized a contract for a public-safety camera system and accepted state assistance that will cover most of the first-year cost.

Staff described three purchase options presented by the vendor: a larger package priced at about $52,299, a 13-camera package at about $49,299 and a smaller 10-camera package. The state Blue Shield grant will cover up to $50,000 of the initial purchase, staff said. The board approved the largest package after a motion and second; the vote recorded one 'no' and the remainder in favor.

Why it matters: Officials said cameras could help with traffic incidents, hit-and-run investigations, missing-person searches and other public-safety tasks. Staff emphasized the board would have the option to evaluate performance after a trial year before committing to ongoing annual payments.

A staff presenter summarized the vendor's pitch, telling the board the grant makes the purchase a low-year-one cost option and that the vendor's networked system can be useful for investigations and officer response. "If we decide not to appropriate funds for a future year, it's an amount of foul and we can budget them and decide later on next year we don't want to renew it," the presenter said; they characterized the first year as a trial to demonstrate value.

Board action: After discussion, a motion to authorize the contract for the larger package (the option presented at about $52,299) passed on a recorded vote; one alder voted no. City staff said the vendor will work with the city to apply the $50,000 state Blue Shield funds against the purchase and that the city would manage any remaining out-of-pocket cost in the current budget.

Ending: Staff said they would provide maps of proposed camera locations and further implementation details and that the board could reconsider renewal during future budget cycles.