Security cameras could soon be coming to Harrison Park and possibly the downtown Ellijay square in the future, all depending on whether applied-for grant funding is received.
As the Ellijay City Council met Monday, April 17, they approved of Police Chief Edward Lacey applying for a tourism grant through the Gilmer Chamber.
If received, the funding will be put toward buying and installing security cameras at Harrison Park, which can be viewed by police officers. Lacey said local organizations can apply for up to $10,000 annually for projects that promote tourism. The grants are funded by local hotel/ motel taxes.
The entire $14,000 cost for the project includes four cameras, a server, installation, labor and materials needed for the installation. The police department would supply the remainder of costs not covered by the grant.
Security cameras would help Ellijay Police keep an eye on Harrison Park, especially in the late night hours, Lacey noted.
“It’s what we call a force multiplier,” said Lacey. “If a police officer is on patrol somewhere, he can actually log in and do a virtual patrol of the area without that taking him away from other places in the city.”
“It would give people a safer place to be when they’re walking, even if it’s dark,” said councilmember Al Fuller. “It would allow the police department to know, at two in the morning, if someone’s down there.”
Lacey said the police department would eventually like to have cameras near the roundabout and in other parts of downtown.
“All of these organizations ask for these tourism grants to support their events. We’re actually supporting them by asking for this,” said Lacey. “We’re going to be able to support their events in a better way, especially if we’re able to look at, in the future, expanding it to the historic downtown area, not just the roundabout.”
Councilmember Katie Lancey asked if there’s been an uptick in activity requiring police attention at the park. Lacey said there hasn’t been an increase recently, but officers have made arrests for such activity in the parking lot over the years.
“The fact that they were patrolling physically and caught those things is good, (but) this will enable us to track what we don’t know (about) when it’s going on,” he added.
“We’ll be able to tell the traffic flow, the peak and low times, and it will allow us to go back if something happens (and see) who was parked in the parking lot at that time.”
Mike Lancaster, of Friends of Harrison Park, told the council he thinks the addition of cameras at the park is a great idea. A new restroom building was recently opened at the park, and the potential for vandalism is also of concern.
“Video surveillance is almost mandatory these days, especially if you’re in any kind of circumstance where there’s not a lot of eyes on it,” said Lancaster. “We benefit from that directly, (so does) everybody that’s doing events in the city.”
Lacey said, since he’s on the board that approves recipients for the tourism grant, he will be recusing himself from the selection process.
In other news …
﹣ Mayor Al Hoyle said there are vacancies on both the Ellijay Planning Commission and Historic Preservation Commission (HPC), which need to be filled. Currently, there is one planning commission vacancy and two HPC vacancies.
Candidates for either board must live within the city limits the be considered, Hoyle noted.
﹣ Councilmembers also approved the following items:
The appointment of Howard Stanley as Ellijay Housing Authority Commissioner. The appointment is retroactive, beginning Jan. 1, as the former housing authority commissioner’s term ended Dec. 31.
A side setback variance request for 245 Lucille Avenue.
A special event permit for serving alcohol at a Dining With Fireflies event to be held at Harrison Park in June.