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By Erin Smith
A security camera system purchased by the town of Clarkton is still not operational. The town purchased 16 security cameras from Tyco (now Johnson Controls) in Raleigh, at a cost of $150,000 more than one year ago.
Clarkton Town Commissioner Tim Tart said this week that 12 of the 16 cameras have been installed by Tyco and have power. He said the town is working with Duke Energy to make sure all cameras have power. Commissioner Tart said some poles had to have a power source added while other poles already had a source available.
Town Clerk Kentrina Woods said currently, the town pays Duke Energy a fee of $30 per month for the poles. Both Commissioner Tart and Woods said they do not know what the cost to the town will be once the camera system becomes operational.
When asked about monitoring of the camera system, Commissioner Tart said the Bladen County Sheriff’s Deputies will check the camera system periodically and any security camera footage which captures a crime or a suspect involved in a crime will be stored at the Sheriff’s Office.
“The Sheriff’s Deputies will check it (the camera system) periodically and they can also go back and check after several days (if a crime is reported later),” said Commissioner Tart.
The camera system, once it is fully operational, will monitor certain areas of town including banks, convenience stores, doctor’s offices and several other businesses. The Dixie youth Baseball Park is included in the camera system’s area of coverage while the R. M. Butler Park is not. Commissioner Tart said the camera system can be expanded to add additional cameras to monitor other locations.
“This is just a starter,” said Commissioner Tart.
The town does have a five-year contract with Tyco (now Johnson Controls) at a cost of $25,000 per year to maintain the camera system.
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