Maintenance, repair issues expedite Glen Carbon Police dash cams
By Kathy Turner
Facing issues with repairs and maintenance of existing squad car cameras, the Glen Carbon Police Department received authorization to replace all the existing in-squad cameras on Tuesday from the Village Board.
When Glen Carbon recently purchased new body camera systems for the department it was planned that further down the road compatible in-squad cameras would be purchased from the same supplier.
However, repair and maintenance on the old in-squad cameras is no longer available, so the plans had to be changed.
The new cameras will come at a cost of just over $196K, payable over a five-year period. They will be installed by the company as soon as they are available.
The Glen Carbon Police Department also received authorization to exceed staffing by one probational candidate. Because of an anticipated retirement later this year and the timing of training classes, Chief Todd Link asked that a hire be made now to assure that the candidate is trained and available for hire later in the year. The board approved the request.
In another action at the Glen Carbon Village Board meeting on June 27, the board heard from a local resident regarding an ordinance up for approval at the meeting. John Rozycki spoke on behalf of the neighborhood that will border the proposed construction of the Mid America Plastic Surgery Office building on Route 159.
Mr. Rozycki expressed concerns primarily about four items. Those concerns were the lighting for the property that will also light up the neighborhood, drainage issues, the sight lines of neighbors and the fact that Edwards Street, which will be the south border, is a narrow street that cannot handle a great deal of traffic.
Later in the meeting, the Board approved an ordinance rezoning the proposed property from single family residential to general commercial. A public hearing had been held earlier concerning the rezoning. An ordinance was also approved to annex a portion of the property into the Village. The Board discussed that future site plans will address the concerns of residents prior to approval. The plan is also in place to have the developer widen Edwards Street from Route 159 to their property’s west edge and rebuild it with a concrete surface. The site plan will be reviewed at a future meeting.
The Board also approved a resolution allowing for an application to Metro East Parks and Recreation for a grant to assist in funding Phase II of the Glen Carbon Shared Use Path. Phase II will run from Lakewood Drive to Mark Trail Drive. It is anticipated that the project will begin in 2025 after several funding sources are approved. The grant request will be for $300K.
The next meeting of the Glen Carbon board will be held at 7 p.m. on July 11.
