Council Approves Additional Security Cameras In Cedar Lee District
The new cameras will use Wi-Fi technology and provide a more accurate picture.
Smile! You're on camera.
But it's not a Hollywood production filming in the city this time. Soon more security cameras will be installed in the Cedar Lee Business District, and police will monitor the feed.
Cleveland Heights City Council approved a new surveillance system for the district at its regular meeting Monday.
Thirteen cameras will be installed on Lee Road from Cedar Road to the Lee Road Library, said Councilman Jason Stein, who introduced the emergency resolution. The cameras use Wi-Fi technology, provide a more accurate picture and record 24/7, he said.
"These cameras will be the eyes and ears of our police department," Stein said. "Each camera is like having a police officer on duty."
ESI Companies, Inc., based in Memphis, TN, will provide and install the SkyCop camera system, and the cost will not exceed $76,000, according to council documents.
In addition, the city will pay the Illuminating Company $35.85 per year per pole to use each pole the cameras are attached to. The cost will increase by 4 percent annually, according to council documents.
The city has installed a couple of cameras in Cedar Lee before, Stein said. Cleveland Heights added 20 cameras in Coventry Village last summer to help police monitor the area. There are also monitoring systems in the Cedar Fairmount Business District, at the Cleveland Heights Community Center and at the intersection of Monticello and Noble. The SkyCop cameras are the first to use Wi-Fi in the city.
"This is the new age ... the security of the future," Stein said. "It helps make our city safer and gives a perception of safety."
The cameras will be visible and flash blue lights, and the city is considering adding signage as well to indicate police officers are watching and monitoring activity, Stein said. The SkyCop cameras will include remote video monitoring and recording systems, providing real-time information to the police department.
Stein said this is a first phase — more cameras will likely be added to the area soon.
Other highlights from the City Council Meeting:
- City Council approved a loan for Burgers-N-Beer to help establish a restaurant at 1854 Coventry, where McNulty's Pub used to be. For more information, click here.
- Susanna Niermann O'Neil, acting city manager, named Law Director John Gibbon acting vice city manager. O'Neil, community relations director for the city, was appointed by council to serve as acting city manager after former City Manager Bob Downey resigned in April.
- Members declared two homes nuisance properties. The houses are located at 3817 Delmore Road and 921 Woodview Road. The home on Delmore will cost $8,000 to raze, and the home on Woodview will cost $10,500 to demolish and clean up debris.
- Council authorized O'Neil to sell the city-owned property at 863 Nelaview Road for $56,000. The home was renovated using money from the federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program, which grants money to local governments to buy abandoned, vacant and foreclosed homes, repair them and turn them around for sale. The dollars also can be used to demolish homes that can't be saved. This is the 11th home sold out of 12 rehabbed, said Vice Mayor Dennis Wilcox.
In This article
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Heights Libraries Lee Road Branch
2345 Lee Rd, Cleveland Heights, OH -
Cleveland Heights Community Center
1 Monticello Blvd, Cleveland, OH -
McNulty's Pub
1854 Coventry Rd, Cleveland Heights, OH -
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Cleveland Heights Police Department
40 Severance Cir, Cleveland Heights, OH -
Garry Kanter
7:03 am on Tuesday, May 8, 2012
They did the Big Brother camera thing as an emergency measure.
Was there ever an opportunity for public comment?
Richard Hollis
5:18 pm on Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Don't they pass everything as an emergency measure? I almost think that they are afraid to get the public's reaction.
Garry Kanter
7:05 am on Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Oh, and being 'secured' on a loan by being 2nd in line on restaurant equipment means "you are not secured at all".
I can see another 'Diners loan' outcome here, and I'm not happy about it.
linda jenkins
11:33 am on Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Personally speaking I don't care about the monitering for safety ,as a people it would be nice to know we all know it's not okay to break the law,however this is our reality so we must take measures.I hope we are'nt enteraining the flashing cameras,unless you live with Epilepsy you really don't realize how it complicates your life,sometimes avoiding certain streets or even a community altogether.Have a great day !
Nathaniel Brooks
6:51 pm on Tuesday, May 8, 2012
The city government is out of control. Nine times out of ten they just make these rash decisions with no input from the community. That seems odd to me because, is it not our hard earned tax dollars paying for this "high tech" system? I could think of a lot of useful ways $76,000 should be spent. I have an idea why don't you fix these damaged roads in the Cleveland Heights and University Heights? On some of the older streets in Cleveland/University Heights the curb is non-existent. University Heights had a surplus in the budget of 1.3 million dollars. You know what they did with the money, with no public vote I might add? They want to build a park on Fenwick. That's going to work out real well, considering they are trying to shut down Gearity and Canterbury elementary schools. Which probably were the main attractions for younger families, who would have moved into University Heights. Just like the politicians in Washington D.C, these city officials are backwards. I don't pay these excessively high taxes to have zero representation. I bet if traffic violations are caught on these cameras, you'll be receiving a ticket in the mail, you can bet on it. I wish instead of lining their pockets with tax payers dollars and making sure contracts that do get approved go to family and friends, they would honestly fix things, so WE as a SOCIETY could PROGRESS. Why would anyone, do anything, that was not self serving? The answer is, they wouldn't, how pathetic.
Emily Jones
10:05 pm on Tuesday, May 8, 2012
It is too bad that we need these cameras, but I am happy that we will have them.
Diana Johannessen
6:25 am on Wednesday, May 9, 2012
I think this is a great idea. I certainly want merchants, community members and families to continue to shop, and if people feel safe, this is great for the businesses/organizations in the Cedar/Lee district. Coventry has dramatically changed because of new rules, and yes it is unfortunate that we have to put these out there, but for those of us who really care about our community and want it to continue to thrive, it is necessary to set these clear boundaries with individuals who may not share the same values.
Jeff Hess
7:45 am on Monday, August 13, 2012
Good morning friends,
Have you heard of Trapwire yet?
If you haven't, you need to educate yourself about the program.
http://havecoffeewillwrite.com/?p=32332
Do all you can to make today a good day,
Jeff Hess
Have Coffee Will Write
Susan Miller
9:37 am on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Yep, Jeff. I have heard of Trapwire. http://youtu.be/pFWGCw6OcGA