Marion councilman irate about installation of license plate cameras within city limits
Automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) cameras have been installed at various locations in the City of Marion, a revelation that didn't set well with Councilman Jason Schaber when he found out about it last week. He expressed his displeasure about that move by the Marion County Sheriff's Office during Monday's City Council meeting.
The Marion County Sheriff's Office was awarded $502,605 as its share of the 10th round of the Ohio Violent Crime Reduction Grant Program in 2022. In total, the state awarded $11.7 million in grant funds to 24 law enforcement agencies last year. The Marion County commissioners unanimously approved a resolution Nov. 10 authorizing the Sheriff's Office to accept the grant funding. The grant is in effect for two years.
During a city council Legislation, Codes, and Regulations Committee meeting held April 3, Marion Police Chief Jay McDonald said the plan is to purchase and install 34 ALPR cameras around the county. He said the Sheriff's Office is purchasing 20 ALPR cameras with grant funding, The MARMET Drug Task Force was supposed to buy eight of the cameras and the Marion Police Department planned to acquire six using funds from its budget.
On Monday, McDonald said 32 cameras have been purchased and will be installed. He said MARMET is now buying six and the police department is buying six. McDonald said the police department will spend about $18,000 per year on the six cameras it is acquiring.
Schaber has been a vocal opponent of the Marion Police Department's proposal to install the ALPR cameras since it was introduced April 3. Council has been discussing legislation to provide oversight of how "surveillance technology" should be used by city agencies, but has not yet voted on the ordinance.
Where were cameras installed without council approval?
When Schaber discovered cameras had been installed inside city limits, he was incensed and posted the following message on his campaign Facebook page on June 21: "Your every movement is now being tracked by Artificial intelligence with the installation of Flock Cameras. 30 plus cameras throughout the County with no oversight."
Schaber further expressed his frustration during Monday's council meeting, seeking answers about why the cameras were installed without council approval.
McDonald said 19 of the ALPR cameras have been installed around Marion County. He said when all of the cameras are installed, 20 will be located inside Marion city limits. When asked why all of the cameras haven't been installed, McDonald said permission is needed from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) or property owners to place the cameras in some areas.
That response drew Schaber's ire.
"So you're seeking permission from ODOT and property owners, but you disregard council?" Schaber asked.
"No," McDonald replied.
McDonald said the six cameras being purchased by the police department would not be installed until City Council has acted on Ordinance 2023-033, which outlines "mandates and conditions" for use of the surveillance technology within city limits. Council took no action on that measure during Monday's meeting.
Sheriff's Office has jurisdiction in county, 'including the city of Marion'
McDonald further stated the cameras already installed were not paid for with city funds. He also noted the Marion County Sheriff's Office "has jurisdiction everywhere within Marion County, including inside the city of Marion."
"The locations that were picked were picked because we believed - we as the command staff of the police department in consultation with the command staff of the sheriff's office - they would be most beneficial in preventing crime, most beneficial in apprehending suspects in Marion," McDonald said. "They are dispersed all the way throughout the city and the county."
Schaber then questioned whether city council had the authority to supersede the sheriff's jurisdiction in regard to the cameras.
"So if the sheriff has jurisdiction and they can slap up all the cameras they want in the city limits, doesn't have to come before council, if we pass a ban on this type of technology, the sheriff can just come in and do it anyway?" Schaber asked. "Is that what I'm understanding?"
When no answer was provided, Schaber said, "Maybe I'll make an amendment and ban the sons of (expletive)."
Marion City Council committees will meet beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, July 3 at City Hall. To see the agenda for all city council meetings, go to the City of Marion website www.marionohio.us. To hear audio recordings of all city council meetings, go to the City of Marion Ohio YouTube channel.
Marion City Hall and all city offices will be closed Tuesday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day. Offices will reopen on July 5.
Email: ecarter@gannett.com | Twitter: @AndrewACCarter
This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Marion councilman irate about installation of license plate cameras
