Cornell City Council - Mill Yard now home to surveillance cameras

Appearing for Cedar Corp., at a meeting April 16, Renee Swenson let the Cornell City Council know what financial responsibility the municipality is under, when applying for a grant to resurface Bates Street. Originally, a portion of Fifth Street was included in the project, but costs proved too great to fund the entire scope of work at this time. Photo by Joy Dain

By Ginna Young

For a few years now, Mill Yard Park has seen multiple cases of vandalism, causing concern among individuals and organizations. After ideas bounced around, it was decided that surveillance cameras were the way to go, in an effort to deter the vandals.

If vandalism does occur, the cameras provide evidence of when the damages happened and who the guilty party is. Thanks to a $2,000 donation from the Cornell Lions Club and $1,000 from a private donation, installing cameras was approved April 16, by the Cornell City Council.

That left about $1,400 remaining to pay for the camera system, which the council decided should come out of their coffers. With the amount raised, it was agreed to go with Krista Computers, to purchase and install the cameras, for $4,422.19.

They also agreed to begin the process to apply for a Community Development Block Grant, to resurface Bates Street. The project will cost $1.7 million, with $1 million funded by the grant, if awarded.

As part of that, members approved Resolution 24-3, to adopt a citizen participation plan. That was done in order to submit the application.

“You’ve done this in the past…you just need to adopt an updated version,” said Renee Swenson, with Cedar Corp.

The council also acted on a request from the Spirit Club, to close Eighth Street, Thursday, May 23, between the high school and the ballfields, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., for a year-end carnival.

As part of the swearing in, Steve Turany was re-elected council president.