
New body cameras are coming to the Chenoa Police Department after the Chenoa City Council approved the purchase at Tuesday night’s regular meeting.
The price tag from Axon is $32,620.60 and will be paid in yearly installment payments over the term of the contract. Police Chief Travis Cornwall said the current cameras are at the end of their life as the technology is no longer supported. The new package includes cloud storage and equipment.
“You pay per officer,” Cornwall explained. “It’s all cloud storage and we’d no longer be responsible for on-site storage.”
A no questions asked warranty is good for five years and covers water damage. According to Cornwall, the Bloomington Police Department is already using this technology and McLean County will soon have it.
“I can login and hit a share link to our attorney. This is a couple of clicks,” noted Cornwall.
An app comes with the cameras for video tagging and video reviews. Photos can be taken at a police scene using a password which makes it secure and time saving. The web-based format makes it easier to collect evidence from the field. A state reimbursement grant could cover the first-year cost of the cameras.
The police body cameras are required under state law.
Council members also approved the purchase of new hard drives for police department computers at a cost of $2,977.45.
Several zoning matters were approved by the council, including a resolution granting a restriction on a lot sale where the owners want to put up a shed that is not allowed on the property. The owners worked with the county to make the property one parcel and it must be sold in one piece without being separated.
The group authorized the re-zoning of real estate, pending amendments, on an empty lot a block west of the city sheds on Franklin. Chenoa Township plans to construct a new building at that location which was formerly referred to as Stalter’s.
Evergreen FS is requesting the use of a storage tank and Mayor Chris Wilder said this would require a special use permit through the Zoning Board which will consider the matter.
In another matter, Parks Commissioner Chad Daiker said he would like to see approval of reimbursement of fuel costs for the park project once the work is complete.
During public comment, local resident Rick Carranza expressed concerns over a drainage issue on his end of town. He noticed the tile that runs through his yard still had water in it, even though it had not rained since the previous Thursday. He spent time pumping water out of a crawl space over the weekend.
“My concern is getting mold in my crawl space,” said Carranza.
Streets Commissioner Joey Bell admitted there is something going on in that part of town with water.
“Somewhere, there’s a collapsed tile.”
The mayor said the city will make some phone calls on the issue.
Also during public comment, Zack Lopeman repeated a previous complaint over the tile under his house.
“He’s scared of mold. I have mold,” stated Lopeman.
Mayor Wilder said it is something which will have to be discussed at a future meeting.
Finance and Insurance Commissioner Kyle Buchanan alerted the council to two TIF presentations which are scheduled to take place at the next meeting with approval of the agreements possible in early May. This includes the recently purchased Kat-E-Corner.
Following an executive session, the group approved offering a full-time city position to Aaron Rhoades. A raise was authorized for the assistant police chief and Jerold Meier was given a position of lead employee and a pay increase.
Wilder said the city has officially received former Commissioner Reinhart’s resignation letter.
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