Stow to Install Safety Cameras to Help Fight Crime
Council moves forward on planning code changes, park investments and more
The crime fighters of Stow will soon get an assist from advanced camera technology that will enable police officers to quickly locate vehicles suspected of involvement in illegal activities.
On March 14, Stow City Council approved a contract for 16 Flock safety cameras to be installed at intersections around the city. The proposal, recommended by Police Chief Jeff Film, outlines the capability of the camera system, which will be able to track sought vehicles by license plate number, make, body style, color and other identifying information like bumper and window stickers and car accessories.
The system is intended to help police quickly locate the perpetrators of crimes and public emergencies, such as missing children, stolen vehicles, stolen license plates, warrants and protection orders.
Chief Film said the city has already solved cases from the use of Flock cameras on a trial basis. His request to City Council included descriptions of a number of cases solved, including felony theft, vandalism, voyeurism, felonious assault and missing persons.
The system works by sending a text to every police officer on duty when a suspect vehicle passes by one of the cameras. Chief Film said the system notifies police within 10-15 seconds of the vehicle passing a camera.
In addition to helping the police department catch criminals, the system may also help reduce crime, according to Flock Safety representative Logan Harrah, who also spoke at City Council’s Finance Committee meeting. He said that in the case of theft rings, thieves have come to recognize where cameras are placed and tend to move on to other communities that do not have cameras. He cited the experience of the city of San Marino, Calif., which noted a 70% drop in residential robberies after installing the cameras.
Chief Film noted that the cameras do not provide any identifying information of the people driving or riding in the vehicles; that the system’s role is to provide actionable evidence on the vehicles for police officers to follow up.
More than 250 communities in Ohio have installed Flock cameras, including the nearby cities of Akron, Cuyahoga Falls, Tallmadge and Twinsburg. Chief Film said the Flock camera system directly contributed to the safe and fast rescue of a 2-year-old child who was in the back seat of a vehicle stolen from a store parking lot in Wayne County. The car and child were found in Akron’s Kenmore neighborhood by police who received a Flock alert two hours later.
The first-year cost of the program, which would include lease of the cameras, installation fees and training, is $58,400, of which $21,900 will be funded through federal funding. The ongoing annual cost would be $48,000.
City Council approved the proposed two-year contract with a 7-0 vote.
The cameras are expected to be installed within 6-10 weeks.
Mayor Gives State of the City Address
In his first State of the City Address to City Council, Mayor John Pribonic touted the completion of SKiP Park last year and the start of a number of new initiatives that will provide amenities for all residents, including:
Completed acquisition of Cornerstone Baptist Church on Fishcreek Rd., which is being converted for use as a senior & community center;
New playground equipment at Meadowbrook Lake Park, with a ribbon-cutting planned for April 20;
A new pickleball complex at Oregon Trail Park. Several pickleball courts already have opened at Oregon Trails and Adell Durbin, with the full complex at Oregon Trails, which will include fencing, lighting, seating, parking and equipment storage, to be completed this year;
Updates to facilities and amenities at Silver Springs Campground, including camping sites, restroom facilities, electricity availability, dump station and a new access road. This project will be completed in 2025.
Improvements to infrastructure and connectivity, including the complete rebuilding of Rt. 59 this year and Rt. 91 starting in 2025.
Pribonic shared the importance of new businesses that have opened or expanded in Stow, particularly in the northwest quadrant, which have provided an additional $1 million in income tax revenue to the city.
He commended the work of city employees, who he said provide exemplary service to the community.
Additionally, the city published a State of the City report, which can be picked up at City Hall or can be downloaded and read here.
City to Update Planning & Zoning Code
Stow will undertake a 19-month-long project to update the city’s planning and zoning code, with a Chicago consulting firm leading the way. City Council approved a $149,800 contract for the code rewrite, which will include the creation of a steering committee made up in part of Stow residents, with community involvement through questionnaires and public meetings to gather input.
As stated in a memo written by Director of Planning & Development Zach Cowan, the project will address:
Council approved the project on a 7-0 vote.
Extended Hours for City Tax Assistance in April
Finance Director Kelly Toppin shared that the tax department would have extended hours in April to assist those who need help with their city income tax forms.
The office is normally open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4:30 pm. On April 9, 10, 11 and 15, the office will be open till 6 pm.
The department also set aside two Saturdays to provide assistance: April 6 and April 13 from 8 am-noon. Toppin said that staff are happy to assist any residents who need help with their tax forms.
New Driving Range at Fox Den; Golf Course Financially Sound
The city will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony April 10 at 5:30 pm at the new driving range at Fox Den Golf Club, developed on the former Hanson Tree Farm on Call Rd.
The new driving range features 15 bays, equipped with mats that simulate both fairways and rough.
During a discussion with city council about the need to issue $800,000 in notes in anticipation of a bond for the final payments for the property, Finance Director Kelly Toppin disclosed that Fox Den is now financially self-sufficient and that with the mild weather this winter, revenues were three times what they were last February and were already ahead of March by $40,000.
In 2023, there were 49,276 rounds of golf played at Fox Den, with the course generating green fees of $1,111,907 and food & beverage sales of $320,000, for total revenue of $2,011,055, up 16% from 2022.
Other items from the March 14 council meeting
Toppin shared that the city’s Finance Department received its 23rd consecutive annual national award for excellence in financial reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association.
Council voted 7-0 to approve a $49,640 contract for the original architect of the former Cornerstone Baptist Church to provide construction design drawings for the new senior & community center. Public Service Director Nick Wren said that while the planned opening of the center is still scheduled for July, activities would need to be limited in size until work to add a fire suppression system is complete.
Council voted 6-0 to approve a $71,000 contract for professional engineering services for updates to Silver Springs Campground. Stow Councilman At-Large Jeremy McIntire abstained because of a potential work-related conflict of interest.
Council voted 7-0 to allow the administration to seek bids for new playground equipment at Adell Durbin Park. The project will involve the oldest section of the playground, which is dedicated to children ages 2-5. Additionally, fencing will be added around the whole playground to enhance safety.
The council approved 6-0 (McIntire abstaining) a $23,100 consulting contract for pedestrian evaluation and preliminary layout for sidewalks along Stow Rd. and Fishcreek Rd.
City Council approved two mayoral appointees to volunteer commissions: Stefanie Farkas to the Committee on Inclusion and Daniel Bacik to the Planning Commission, both on a 7-0 vote.
