ELDON, Mo. - The city has pressed "play" on a long-considered initiative to install surveillance cameras at two parks to combat persistent vandalism.
The Eldon Board of Aldermen accepted a bid of $18,110 from Eldon-based company All-Com Digital during its June 24 meeting to install cameras at the Eldon Airpark on Franklin Street and Rock Island Park on state Route 52. The city budgeted $20,000 to spend on cameras this year after several incidents of vandalism at the parks have cost Eldon thousands of dollars.
The vandalism continued last week, as two suspects, ages 17 and 18, were arrested early Tuesday morning for breaking locks and gates at the airpark's swimming pool. While they remain at the Miller County Jail, more vandalism occurred Tuesday night at Apperson Sports Complex off of Grand Avenue, with $600 to $700 worth of damage to the concessions stand, according to Mayor Ron Bly.
After the first incident alone, the city has already paid more than $600 to replace the broken locks at the aquatic center, which in this case may be recovered since the suspects were apprehended.
"Over the last year or so at the airpark pavilion, we've had picnic tables ruined and busted up, and it's been mostly bathroom vandalism at Rock Island Park where they've taken baseball bats and broken the toilets and sinks," Bly said.
The constant repairs have become costly in several ways.
"The problem is we have to pull our guys off of jobs that we're doing to fix the vandalism, so it's putting us behind on city projects," Bly said, citing street work and water and sewer projects that have suffered.
The Parks and Recreation Department has also started locking the bathrooms at Rock Island Park at dusk to prevent late-night vandalism.
The high-definition surveillance camera footage will be monitored 24 hours a day by Eldon's Communications Department, and All-Com Digital will begin installing the cameras immediately in strategic locations, Bly said. While the current project does not include Apperson Sports Complex, the city will consider adding cameras there due to recent events at the park.