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Residents press Lynn Haven leaders for stricter controls on Flock surveillance, raise other local disputes
Summary
Multiple residents and commentators urged the commission to re-evaluate Flock license-plate readers and data-sharing policies; others pressed the city over a delayed settlement and the 10th Street construction project, and a neighborhood workshop was scheduled.
A string of public commenters at Thursday’s Lynn Haven City Commission meeting pressed officials to tighten oversight, retention and sharing policies for the city’s Flock automated license-plate readers and raised separate local controversies over a pending settlement and a stalled street project.
David Switzer told the commission that a December 2025 vote to adopt Flock had been "rubber-stamped" and said data generated by the cameras is being shared widely. He warned elected officials that the issue is politically salient and urged the commission to review the agreement and consider policy changes. "If you have political aspirations, Flock is going to be the number one issue," Switzer said.
Several commenters and a commissioner suggested specific limits and oversight steps. Ryan Screen suggested narrowing Flock use to serious crimes, restricting sharing to adjacent states, reducing retention to 15 days and placing cameras on inbound roads only. Commissioner Peoples said she supports drafting stricter auditing and oversight policies and establishing consequences for misuse.
Separately, James Finch accused the commission and outside counsel of changing the terms of a previously negotiated settlement and said the item was pulled from the agenda after an afternoon shade meeting; the commission said the resolution was tabled because the parties had not reached mutual agreement and staff will continue to pursue a settlement with the other party’s counsel.
The commission also scheduled a workshop on the 10th Street project for Saturday at 2 p.m. to let residents discuss construction problems and seek improvements in contractor performance and communication.
Next steps: commissioners asked staff and legal counsel to take the Flock concerns under advisement and to consider policy changes and oversight mechanisms; staff will continue settlement negotiations and prepare materials for the 10th Street workshop.
