By Kellen Olshefski
Correspondent
At its March 17 meeting, the City of Elkhorn common council voted 5-0 in favor of increasing the Elkhorn Police Department budget by $6,300 for software maintenance services this year to obtain two additional Flock cameras, a purchase made possible thanks to the continued partnership and donation of a local business.
In his memo to the council, Captain Alvin Brandl explained the business owner wanted to continue its partnership and provide $6,000 in 2025 and 2026 to the camera program, essentially paying for two of the city’s four Flock cameras, located at the Highway 67 and I-43 interchange.
Brandl said the city had budgeted $13,000 to continue the system’s operation in the event the business owner no longer supported the program. As a result of the generous $6,000 donation however, the department wanted to add two cameras to the system, which would allow the department to deploy cameras in other strategic locations.
With the budget adjusted to $19,300 for 2025 and the $6,000 donation, the net effect this year would be $300, according to Brandl.
A motion to approve by Alderman Scott McClory was seconded by Alderman Ron Dunwiddie.
Following a question from Alderman Gary Lee Payson Jr., Brandl clarified the city would be making the $6,300 increase to the budget now, and the $6,000 donation would essentially be refunded later, with Payson noting that he just wanted to make sure everyone understood that while it’s $6,300 now, it’s actually $300.
Payson also noted that looking back to when the Flock system was discussed at the Finance Committee level, they were attempting to get as many Flock cameras as the city could afford in an effort to offer more protection.
The motion to approve passed 5-0.
For the full story, please see the print edition of the Elkhorn Independent.
