City to install cameras at Rec Center

WILLIAMSBURG — The City of Williamsburg accepted a quote for 11 new cameras at the Recreation Center on South Highland Street but tabled a decision on cameras for the city hall.

The cameras are the same as the one the city put at the compost site to discourage illegal dumping, said Williamsburg City Manager Aaron Sandersfeld.

City Councilman Tyler Marshall said he understands the desire for security, but he also has concerns about privacy.

Sandersfeld said the cameras have AI capabilities so the city can search for a specific color of vehicle or a color of clothing, but it doesn’t have facial recognition.

The $9,010 estimate from Custom Connections in North Liberty included $1,650 for the hard drive, $2,880 for nine five-megapixel 2.8 mm cameras and $840 for two color eight-megapixel 4 mm cameras for the parking lot.

“My gut tells me it will pay for itself,” said Sandersfeld. The city will pay for the cameras using money in the Rec Center budget.

Councilman Jake Tornholm asked if the city can get a couple of cameras on the trail in the back of the Rec Center. Several people use the trail in the evening, and the area is rather remote, bordering a cornfield.

Cameras for city hall would replace current cameras, six interior and three exterior, said Sandersfeld. The city will use money from the hotel/motel tax to pay for them unless the city has to use that money as a match for a community catalyst grant from Iowa Economic Development Authority, which he thinks is unlikely this year.

Custom Connections’s quote for installing a camera system at Williamsburg City Hall totaled $7,810. The cost includes $1,650 for the hard drive, $1,260 for three color eight-megapixel turret cameras for the exterior, $1,920 for six five-megapixal 2.8 mm cameras for the interior.

The council tabled a decision on the city hall camera.