Muncie parks board weighs camera and key‑fob system for North Shore campground; vendor says install ~ $14,000

The Muncie Parks and Recreation Board on Aug. 19 heard plans to add a camera and key‑fob door system at the North Shore campground restrooms at Prairie Creek Reservoir to reduce vandalism and reduce unauthorized use.

The system described by the board’s security consultant would place a single camera to cover the restroom entry area and install card readers so the men’s and women’s restrooms are locked 24/7 unless opened by an authorized key fob. Sam, a representative of the security vendor, said the install package and hardware were approved at about $14,000 and that parts are expected to arrive in mid‑September.

Board members and staff said the work is intended to reduce confrontations encountered by park staff and to give staff a way to review footage if police are called. “The project we’re beginning at the North Shore Campground bathroom is for 1 camera to watch that kind of awning and entry area, and then to get both of those doors… on a key card reader,” Sam said during the meeting.

Why it matters: Prairie Creek is self‑funded and has seen increasing calls for security at the campground. Staff and the vendor said the system is intended to protect staff and campers, prevent vandalism and provide a recorded audit trail for law enforcement when needed. Board members raised questions about ongoing subscription and Internet costs, data access policy, and how many fobs to issue.

System design and operations: Sam described a staged rollout focused first on the two campground restroom doors and one camera covering the entry canopy. He said the camera would include infrared capability for night visibility and be housed in a vandal‑proof dome. The door controllers would report “door ajar” alarms if a door were forcibly held open; the vendor can tune that timer to avoid nuisance alarms when maintenance staff prop a door to clean. Sam said the plan is to start with roughly 300 key fobs and add more if necessary.

On data and access, staff and board members flagged privacy and records policies. Misty Raines, interim operations manager at Prairie Creek, asked how footage requests would be handled; board conversation indicated the city would need a legal/privacy policy, and the likely practice would be to limit release of footage and require a police report before footage is supplied. Sam noted the vendor’s system stores video and fob logs centrally and that authorized administrators could review both the video and a record of which fob opened a door.

Costs and timeline: The vendor estimated one‑time installation and hardware at about $14,000 for the described kit. Sam said recurring costs (cloud storage, subscription and any Internet circuit fees) were separate; staff asked the vendor to provide a line‑item for recurring costs. Carl Moore, superintendent for Muncie Parks and Recreation, said the parks budget is tight and that the city and board would need to identify funding sources and possibly seek grant support. “The main thing is having safety put in place, and there’s a cost with that. And we’re gonna pay one way or another on the end,” Moore told the board.

Policy, training and implementation: The vendor said training for staff on user management and fob administration is part of the rollout; Misty and Tawny were identified as staff who would receive training. Board members asked about lost‑fob fees, whether staff would be able to suspend or revoke fobs, and whether schedules (for example, weekend‑only opening) could be used later if the key‑fob requirement proved onerous for boaters. Sam confirmed those features are available.

Next steps: Staff agreed to obtain a full written quote that separates the one‑time hardware/install cost from recurring subscription and Internet costs, to provide a proposed policy for footage access (including whether a police report would be required) and to continue exploring grant options with the vendor and other funders. The vendor expects parts mid‑September and said the system can be extended to additional sites in the future.

Public and board concerns: Board members and public commenters asked for clarity on who will be able to pull footage, how long video is retained and how the city will pay recurring costs. Staff said they will consult the legal team and controller’s office on policy, and will return with cost detail and a procurement plan.

The installation remains subject to final budget approval and any necessary council or mayoral sign‑off; staff said they will bring back a written proposal and recurring cost estimates before scheduling installation.