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Council approves purchase of license-plate readers; staff warns of recurring annual costs
Summary
Council approved resolution 25-291 to purchase automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) and cameras from GTBM not to exceed $98,527.10. Staff notified the council of recurring costs — SIM-card service per camera and an annual software renewal estimated at roughly $7,000 — and a three-year warranty was confirmed.
The Township Council approved resolution 25-291 authorizing the purchase of automatic license plate readers and associated video cameras from the vendor GTBM for an amount not to exceed $98,527.10. Staff and council members discussed technical and recurring costs before the vote.
Administration staff said the capital request was approved previously in the capital program at $100,000 and the current contract comes in slightly under that amount. Staff advised council that each camera location will require a cellular data connection (SIM card), and that monthly SIM costs could range from about $20 to $50 per device; with three devices that could be up to roughly $150 per month. In addition, staff reported an expected annual software renewal for the ALPR platform (referred to as the vendor’s software) of just under $7,000 after the initial first-year software package included with the purchase.
Council members asked whether the county or police department would absorb ongoing costs and whether the network or hosting costs had been clearly defined; staff said the county will host data but the township would remain responsible for the vendor software and recurring SIM costs. A three-year warranty on hardware was confirmed by staff. Several council members asked staff to negotiate multi-year pricing or locked rates for software renewals and data plans before the first renewal is due.
The motion to authorize the purchase passed by roll call.
