MONROE - Captain James Kosek, Monroe Police Department, presented the idea of installing video monitoring surveillance cameras on at least two corners of the Square at a meeting of the Monroe Main Street Board of Directors Monday at City Hall.
In addition to the camera idea, the Main Street board also voted to recommended the city Public Safety Committee consider whether to allow beer sales at an event in May to commemorate the Square.
The cameras would need power and Internet access to allow constant recording and real-time viewing. The cameras will be capable of a 260- to 270-degree field of view.
"The police department thinks it's a good idea," Kosek said. "But surveillance alone doesn't reduce crime."
Kosek recommended the city begin with "basic, bottom-line equipment" that could easily be expanded.
The cost of the project would depend upon the type of equipment installed, and Kosek said equipment costs have a wide range.
One quote of the four quotes Kosek gathered in May, from a company in Verona, ranged from $10,000 to $15,000. However, Kosek said quotes have gone down since then.
Costs for the purchase of the equipment could come out of the downtown Tax Increment District funds, according to Monroe Main Street Executive director Barb Nelson.
Monitoring would probably be done at the police department, but Kosek said officers would not be able to watch the monitors on a 24-hour basis.
Work for long-term maintenance of the equipment and logging the tapes would also likely fall on the police department.
The added police work would come under the city budget, which is not able to handle the costs, Alderman Dan Henke said, who serves on the Monroe Main Street Board.
Board member Mike Doyle objected to the cameras as an invasion of privacy.
"If we're going to have that, we need to see a demonstration of problems downtown," he said.
"Are people going to like that?" he said.
"The Police Department is pushing it as a crime fighting system," Kosek said. "We may bring it up with or without Main Street."
The board voted unanimously to send it to the city Public Safety Committee for consideration.
The Public Safety Committee will also look at how, and whether, the city should include beer sales at a community event being planned for late May to celebrate the new streetscape project finished last fall.
Pam Christopher, Monroe Chamber of Commerce and Industry executive director, presented plans for the event, "A Square Affair: Remembering our past - Celebrating our future."
The plans include afternoon activities for children and two dance bands beginning in the early evening.
The projected cost of the bands is about $2,800.
With decorations, cash awards, tables, chairs and portable restrooms among the costs, the total cost of the event would be about $4,800.
It is unclear who will pay for the event.
Selling 24 reservations for tables near the band stage for participants to decorate and use could raise about $850 toward the cost of the event.
Christopher said the minimal table reservation cost was suggested in order to include people of all income brackets.
However, the serving of alcohol would require some security, which was not included in the event budget.
Christopher and Nelson said they would like the event to become an annual or bi-annual occasion.
In addition to the camera idea, the Main Street board also voted to recommended the city Public Safety Committee consider whether to allow beer sales at an event in May to commemorate the Square.
The cameras would need power and Internet access to allow constant recording and real-time viewing. The cameras will be capable of a 260- to 270-degree field of view.
"The police department thinks it's a good idea," Kosek said. "But surveillance alone doesn't reduce crime."
Kosek recommended the city begin with "basic, bottom-line equipment" that could easily be expanded.
The cost of the project would depend upon the type of equipment installed, and Kosek said equipment costs have a wide range.
One quote of the four quotes Kosek gathered in May, from a company in Verona, ranged from $10,000 to $15,000. However, Kosek said quotes have gone down since then.
Costs for the purchase of the equipment could come out of the downtown Tax Increment District funds, according to Monroe Main Street Executive director Barb Nelson.
Monitoring would probably be done at the police department, but Kosek said officers would not be able to watch the monitors on a 24-hour basis.
Work for long-term maintenance of the equipment and logging the tapes would also likely fall on the police department.
The added police work would come under the city budget, which is not able to handle the costs, Alderman Dan Henke said, who serves on the Monroe Main Street Board.
Board member Mike Doyle objected to the cameras as an invasion of privacy.
"If we're going to have that, we need to see a demonstration of problems downtown," he said.
"Are people going to like that?" he said.
"The Police Department is pushing it as a crime fighting system," Kosek said. "We may bring it up with or without Main Street."
The board voted unanimously to send it to the city Public Safety Committee for consideration.
The Public Safety Committee will also look at how, and whether, the city should include beer sales at a community event being planned for late May to celebrate the new streetscape project finished last fall.
Pam Christopher, Monroe Chamber of Commerce and Industry executive director, presented plans for the event, "A Square Affair: Remembering our past - Celebrating our future."
The plans include afternoon activities for children and two dance bands beginning in the early evening.
The projected cost of the bands is about $2,800.
With decorations, cash awards, tables, chairs and portable restrooms among the costs, the total cost of the event would be about $4,800.
It is unclear who will pay for the event.
Selling 24 reservations for tables near the band stage for participants to decorate and use could raise about $850 toward the cost of the event.
Christopher said the minimal table reservation cost was suggested in order to include people of all income brackets.
However, the serving of alcohol would require some security, which was not included in the event budget.
Christopher and Nelson said they would like the event to become an annual or bi-annual occasion.