Politics & Government
Dardenne Prairie Board of Aldermen Discuss Park Security Cameras, Update on iPads
The board considers placing security cameras at the new city park, plans to purchase refurbished iPads.
At Wednesday night’s Dardenne Prairie Board of Aldermen meeting and work session, Mayor Pam Fogarty suggested security cameras should be placed at the new city park once it is finished.
With all of the money the city is spending on the park, Fogarty said, the city should make an effort to protect the park from vandalism. The cameras may be on 24 hours a day to catch other crimes at the park as well.
Forgarty quoted a representative from the security camera company. "What if there is an accident back there? Then you’ve have it on tape. If somebody just drops their underage kids off and don’t return for a couple hours, you’ve got that on tape. You’ve got anything that could go on day or night, that will be taped. So that could help in anything that might happen."
Ward 3 Alderman Sharon West said cameras are necessary because there will not be park security.
“I think they’re a great idea,” West said. “I think we need to monitor what happens in our city parks because there’s not someone there all the time watching.”
The board is waiting to hear an estimate on how many cameras should be placed around the park and how much that might cost.
The Board of Aldermen are also waiting to buy refurbished iPads from Apple, a move that will save $150 on the iPads. Ward 2 Aldermen Kevin Harris said the board should be able to buy the iPads for less than $350 each.
The aldermen want to purchase the iPads to save on printing costs and copies for the city. The board currently does not have laptops to send documents electronically from city hall.
The board plans to buy nine iPads for the aldermen, mayor, city clerk and city administrator. The nine iPads would cost a total of $3,141. The law firm Hazelwood & Webber is sponsoring the purchase.