The Laurel Police Department is adding a pair of pole cameras to its crime-fighting arsenal.
The $25,500 cost of the remotely-operated and managed surveillance equipment is being covered by the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program. A public hearing for anyone with concerns about the high-tech crime-fighting tool was set for 9 a.m. today (Tuesday) at Laurel City Hall. A notice about the public hearing was published in the Leader-Call on Feb. 8.
There wasn’t any discussion of the equipment during the most recent meeting of the city council, but Councilman George Carmichael did voice his support for the LPD and his disdain for social media.
“Facebookers ... (post) that the LPD is targeting black communities when we should be joyful to have a police presence in our neighborhoods,” he said. “That will deter people from doing things they shouldn’t. Social media is misleading people.”
The LPD proposed to use the two mobile surveillance cameras “to conduct law and drug enforcement” in ways that align with the requirements of JAG funding. The cameras “have been shown to enhance the ability to identify suspects, conduct criminal investigations and other activities pertaining to crime prevention ... and the apprehension of criminals,” according to the project narrative. The LPD “will work collaboratively with our community partners to strengthen community policing and develop safe communities for our residents and businesses.”
The equipment will be used by officers in the Patrol Division, Narcotics Division, SWAT Team and investigators in the Criminal Investigations Division.
There’s a requirement for JAG funding that the data gathered by the cameras be summarized and reported to the Department of Justice. “The Laurel Police Department is capable and confident in our ability to fulfill this proposal as we seek to eliminate crime for our stakeholders.”
In other business, the council unanimously approved a couple of roadway projects that are being paid for with American Rescue Plan Act funds:
• For 15th Avenue to be reworked from Congress Street to 12th Street with local contractor R&J Construction submitting the low bid of $3,101,166.19
• For Joe Wheeler Avenue to be reworked from Chantilly Street to 20th Street, with local company Walters Construction submitting the low bid of $2,568,696.05.
Both projects will include overlay along with water, sewer and drainage improvements and Neel-Schaffer will provide engineering services for design and construction administration.
The council also unanimously approved low-bidder Hudson Contracting, Inc., to replace blowers at a wastewater treatment plant. The Waynesboro company had the low bid of $1,549,300 with a deductive option that reduced the bid to $1,345,300. A grant will provide most of the funds for the project.
Council members also unanimously:
• Approved a one-time disbursement of $45,625 for emergency elevator repairs at the Laurel-Jones County Library. The Jones County Board of Supervisors is paying half of the $91,250 total cost to MidSouth Elevator for the work;
• Renewed an agreement with Taylor Power Systems to service the city’s 26 generators at a cost of $20,587;
• Appointed Jim Rasberry to serve the remainder of James Johnson-Hill’s four-year term on the Laurel Tourism Committee. That committee was created in July 2022 to oversee the spending of funds collected from the 3 percent tourism tax;
• Reappointed Keith Ridgeway to the Board of Trustees of the Laurel School District;
• Approved the second reading of an ordinance to close the 162-foot alley between Short 7th Avenue and North 6th Avenue off Sawmill Road;
• Travel expenses for elected officials and clerks to attend the Mississippi Municipal League conference in Biloxi June 22-27;
• Travel for Deputy City Clerks Kristal Jones and Kristi Howard for training in Minneapolis in April. The estimated $5,100 cost is being covered by an AmeriCorps grant.
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