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Resident raises privacy concerns about Middleville surveillance cameras during council public comment
Summary
A resident urged the Middleville council to re-examine the village's surveillance cameras and consider public input or a vote, saying the cameras raise Fourth Amendment and privacy concerns and citing a recent Supreme Court geofencing decision.
During public comment on July 14, Kirk DeCam told council he was concerned about what he called the "Middleville surveillance" system and urged greater transparency and community input. DeCam framed his concerns as constitutional and technological: "It brings up a lot of Fourth Amendment issues," he said, adding that some people now use websites that map camera density.
DeCam said the cameras had been installed without public consent and suggested the question might be better resolved by a vote of the people rather than by staff action. He referenced a recent Supreme Court decision related to geofencing (the transcript references it as "Chapter versus US") and said automated systems and license-plate reader errors elsewhere have led to wrongful stops.
Council members acknowledged the concern and said the issue merits further conversation. The chair said the council could continue the conversation at a later time; no formal action was taken and staff offered to follow up.
What's next: Council did not vote or direct staff to remove cameras. Members signaled willingness to discuss policy and clarify the village's use of cameras and any data-retention or access rules at a future meeting.
