Athabasca County council has rejected a motion to financially support three cameras to be installed at the corner of 50th Avenue and 50th Street in town.
Two members of Athabasca’s Citizens On Patrol group spoke to council at their regular meeting July 9, presenting a proposal for the installation of three cameras facing east, west and south at the main corner. During a June 18 council meeting the Town of Athabasca’s council passed a motion to partner on the project.
“There was a stabbing in my neighbourhood just a couple of nights ago,” COP member Gina Shaw said at the meeting. “It’s all the time. It’s every hour on the hour, there’s something going on somewhere in our community. And us law-abiding citizens — we have to start pushing back.”
The camera installation is set to cost $4,000 according to a quote given to COP by local company Semalta Communications. To help cover the cost, COP has asked for $1,000 each from the county, the Town of Athabasca, and the Athabasca Chamber of Commerce. COP said in their proposal to council that they intend to put forward $1,000 and fund any cost overruns or shortfalls for this project.
If installed, images from the cameras would only be available to the RCMP and will become the property of the Town of Athabasca, according to COP president Rod Kerr.
“Although cameras can be useful I have concerns,” said Division 9 Coun. Warren Griffin. “I had a resident this morning at 5 a.m. get broken into. When his alarm went off, he looked out and they took shots at him. They fired guns at him and he had to call the RCMP, and quite frankly cameras to the east, west and south aren’t going to help him. I have some difficulty putting tax dollars to cameras in town when I have residents in my division that these cameras aren’t going to help,” he said.
“I think this is a town issue,” said Division 6 Coun. Penny Stewart.
Coun. Christi Bilsky said she disagreed.
“We can’t just say it’s in town,” she said. “Anyone who steals vehicles from any of our county tax payers is probably driving through town with it.”
COP has a Facebook messenger group, according to Shaw, where members can share and report information.
“I think one guy is in jail because of that,” Shaw said. “I emailed one of the RCMP members that a truck was totalled in Thorhild so now that young gentleman has been arrested … he is a repeat offender.”
Town council
The Town of Athabasca’s council had passed a motion to support the cameras at the main corner if all parties participated.
Speaking at their regular council meeting June 18, Mayor Colleen Powell said there were are two parts to the proposal, which had been presented by COP at that meeting.
“Part one is the cameras on the street light at the Grand Union Hotel,” Powell said. “Any motion made should include that we would be partners with (Athabasca County, the COP and the Athabasca District Chamber of Commerce).”
She added that second part would be a camera rebate program for any person or business who installs one on their property.
Coun. Rob Balay made the motion to participate in the camera initiative at the corner of 50th Street and 50th Avenue, provided that all stated partners participate.
“The reason I made this motion is that when we had (Athabasca RCMP) Staff Sgt. Paul Gilligan in here, he thought it was a good idea,” Balay said. “He said it was another tool that they could use. For us, it’s another way to show that we are willing to work with our community groups to fight this problem (of rising crime).”
Prior to the vote, Coun. Ida Edwards brought up a concern about maintenance costs once the camera is installed.
“What happens if a camera is stolen or busted? What will be the procedures be for that, who will be responsible for it, and will it be up to the town’s side?” Edwards said.
“I’m wondering if we should just give them our blessing rather than participate in a monetary (way),” Coun. Dave Pacholok said. “Last year, they came asking for $10,000 for the initiative, but now they say it will only cost $4,000, and they want to partner with us and two other groups to put forward the cost.”
Coun. Tannia Cherniwchan said participation would speak volumes.
“It’s $1,000, but it will give the message that we are basically supporting fighting crime in our community,” Cherniwchan said. “And if we say that we are not going to do it, that’s not a very good message that we are sending.”
The motion was passed 5-2, with Powell and Edwards opposed.
Balay also made a pair of motions, first to direct administration to work with COP to bring forward a memorandum of understanding for the initiative, and to direct administration to contact Fortis and Alberta Transportation for permission to install cameras at the proposed intersection. Both motions were passed unanimously.
Powell said in terms of the camera rebate program, she said cameras on houses and businesses can be much more effective.
“I think we need someone to come forward with a proposal of how much money we can put into the rebate program, and how much money we would be willing to rebate per camera, and on how many cameras each property has,” Powell said.
Coun. John Traynor moved to have council direct administration to bring forward a proposal for a camera rebate program. The motion was passed unanimously.
The rebate program is set to come back before to town council at their regular meeting July 16 at 6 p.m.
— With files from Bryan Taylor
