Downtown Surveillance Cameras, Increased Pool Fees Approved by City Council

A new surveillance camera system in Maplewood will give police officers the ability to monitor activity at five public locations from their office desks, police cars or smart phones.

The $125,000 system is connected wirelessly to a server at city hall, letting police officers use different devices to view live footage. The system is portable too, so city staff could move cameras to new locations without incurring additional costs.

Maplewood City Council approved the cameras at a meeting on Tuesday night. Second Ward Councilman Timothy Dunn the only dissenting vote. Council members asked police chief Steve Kruse several questions about how the cameras function but offered no debate on whether cameras should be used for policing or not.

After the meeting, Dunn said he voted against the camera system because he thinks it doesn't prevent crime as effectively as programs like neighborhood watch, where neighbors work together to identify problems and bring them to the police department.

"It's not crime fighting. It doesn't take the place of building community," Dunn said.

In , Kruse said a camera system allows police officers to hold pace with advancing technology while deterring crime in public areas. The city hasn't seen a substantial increase in crime, he said.

The cameras will be stationed at  and four locations downtown:

• Marietta Avenue 
• Intersection of Manchester Road and Sutton Boulevard
• Intersection of Manchester Road and Yale Avenue
• 

The city will draft a formal policy for the use of cameras before they become operational, City Manager Marty Corcoran said.

Pool Fees Jump in Maplewood

Children, adults and families will have to pay more to swim at the this summer.

The council approved increasing pool fees to help pay for higher costs in labor, chemicals and maintenance. The last rate hike was in 2006.

“If you take a look at these rates, we’re still low. We’re still a heck of a bargain for what we’re doing here,” Corcoran said.

Compared to nearby cities like Clayton, Kirkwood, Webster Groves or University City, Maplewood's rates hover right in the middle in most examples.

The city also raised the fees for renting park pavilions. Most fees were increased by $5.

Editor's note: How do you feel about the city's plan to add surveillance cameras in five locations? and we'll share your thoughts.