OILTON — The council members of Oilton recently directed the mayor to purchase trail cameras in an attempt to curb vandalism at the local park.
During the regular meeting of the council on April 14, council members unanimously approved a proposal that would allow Mayor Julia Bagwell to purchase trail cameras to monitor the public area to help police identify those responsible for damages at the park.
Bagwell introduced the agenda item telling council the cameras could be an important resource in protecting the park, especially as the city pursues improvements through grant applications.
“We have graffiti all over the kids’ play area,” Bagwell said, describing the markings as “very graphic.”
She went on to say the city should focus on monitoring the park before investing money to repaint the equipment and make other upgrades.
Council members discussed the type of cameras that could be used and how they might be installed to avoid tampering. Officials further noted that trail cameras are available in a wide range of prices and often operate on battery power, making them easier to install in areas without electricity or internet access. Some council members also discussed the possibility of using cellularenabled cameras that could send images directly to a phone if activity is detected. Bagwell suggested having herself or the police department as the primary monitors of the cameras so that officers can be