Belleville DDA considers security for Horizon Park waterfront

There was $2,500 worth of damage to the kayak launch last year and it is damaged again and needs to be fixed before the equipment is re-installed on the dock in late April or early May.
In January, “Security for Horizon Park Waterfront” was put on the follow-up list of the Belleville Downtown Development Authority. The proposed action was to improve usage and reduce vandalism. Suggested were an education campaign plus possible security measures.
At its regular meeting March 21, DDA Coordinator Carol Thompson introduced Belleville Police Reserve Officer Vic Karvelis.
She said the DDA is looking for ways to have better security “to sway people not to be as mischievous as they have been recently down there.”
Karvelis, who said he has 20 years of experience in security systems, gave a presentation on what kinds of security equipment is available.
On a screen he projected different kinds of cameras, both overt and covert. He said they could throw up two cameras on the waterfront as a deterrent or there are cameras the size of his pinkie that could be put in place for covert operations.
City councilman Tom Fielder, who was in the audience, recoiled at the thought of recording people secretly. He said it should be posted with “This area is monitored.” DDA members agreed.
Karvelis, who said he is an engineer technician, explained analogue vs. digital, old technology and the new high-definition recordings that avoid pixelating. He showed color night vision and talked about different technologies and connections, plus wireless operations.
Thompson said the park closes at dusk and there is less activity there. While the area is checked often, it doesn’t get checked every day.
Thompson said she believes that the equipment on the launch is being misused. Very likely, someone is using it for swimming and diving and that does damage to the equipment, she said.
DDA vice chairperson Alicia McGovern asked about where someone would be watching the surveillance and Karvelis said the city wouldn’t have somebody watching it, but an email or pic can be sent to whoever is entitled. He said he proposed Belleville High School make their cameras live into the Belleville Police Department.
He said two years ago he put a camera up high over the carnival near the emergency center at Strawberry Festival and Police Cpl. Todd Schrecengost watched it and alerted officers to where problems might be averted. He said this was very successful.
Councilman Fielder asked about recordings and Karvelis said recordings could be held up to 60 days, but some are two weeks. He said there is aerial technology and it could go wireless from the waterfront through what Johnny’s has.
Councilman Fielder asked Karvelis if he would help with recommendations and Karvelis replied, “We would have to see exactly what you are looking for.”
The DDA thanked him for his presentation and said they would have discuss on what they want to do.
Thompson said the insurance paid all but the $1,000 deductible for last year’s repairs and DPW director Rick Rutherford is getting estimates for the current damage.
In other business at the 47-minute meeting, the DDA:
• Heard the audit report for the year ending June 30, 2017, from Kelly Howey of Plante Moran, who handles financials for the city. She said Alan C. Young & Associates auditors gave a clean audit report to the city council. She pointed out the increasing principle payments for the DDA bonds. They were $220,000 last year and will be $245,000 in 2019. She pointed out the DDA used $21,026 from its fund balance to balance the books last year, leaving $211,248 in the fund balance;
• Heard Thompson explain the Recodified Tax Increment Financing Act that the governor just signed into law. She said the Michigan Municipal League and the Michigan Downtown Association think it is fair. This cancels the existing TIF and uses some of the rules with some new. The Department of Treasury will create a form to report capture and spending and a lot more reporting is required. It goes into effect for the Belleville DDA at the next fiscal year, July 1, 2019. There are informational meetings with other taxing jurisdictions required twice a year, which for Belleville would be the county, library, WCCC, and city. Some DDAs are holding open houses;
• Reviewed pictures of the ten new outdoor sculptures that will be erected in Belleville and Van Buren Township in late May. The present sculptures will be removed. The newly selected sculptures will be erected at Davenport Center, Five Points, Fourth Street Square, Chase Bank, Horizon Park, Belleville Gateway Sign, Quirk Road Triangle, McDonald’s/Taco Bell, Belle Tire, and Walgreen’s/Menards. Paperwork needs to be completed for the proposed purchase by the Belleville Area Council for the Arts of the “Hands Held High” sculpture, currently at the Gateway, and then the city council would have to decide where it wants the gift sculpture sited;
• Approved accounts payable of $297,845.30, which includes a bond payment of $293,903.75 for this year’s bond payment to Bank of New York Mellon; and
• Heard Councilman Fielder announce a CAF5 fund raiser on April 10 at the Belleville Yacht Club to gather donations for a Rawsonville Elementary School student who is fighting cancer.