Newell is looking for ways to keep an eye on its public spaces — and city officials say the need is especially important without a police department of their own.
The Newell City Council heard a presentation Wednesday evening from Lee Wuebker, general manager of Corn Belt Telephone Co., about a potential security camera system that could help the city deter vandalism, investigate damage and identify people responsible for illegal dumping.
Wuebker demonstrated a cloud-based system sold through Alibi, which would allow authorized city officials to view live camera feeds and review recorded footage from multiple locations through a single login.
The cameras record continuously, with storage options ranging from seven days to a year or longer, depending on the subscription plan. Footage can also be downloaded and saved to a computer before it expires from cloud storage.
Wuebker said the cameras he demonstrated that are installed in Wall Lake, Lake View and Templeton cost about $180 each. Monthly cloud storage for eight cameras would run approximately $65 with seven-day retention, or about $8 per camera. Longer storage periods would cost more, although Wuebker did not have an exact price for those options.
The initial investment would also include installation and networking equipment. Each camera location would need a Power-over-Ethernet port, which supplies both power to the camera and network connectivity through Ethernet cables. Wuebker said Ethernet cable runs generally should not exceed 300 feet.
The council discussed several potential locations, including the city park, golf course, tree park, city dump, cemetery, maintenance shed, water tower, City Hall and fire station. Officials also mentioned the swimming pool area and pickleball court. The city dump was among the locations identified as a possible priority because of recurring problems with unwanted items being left there.
Mayor Justin Lyman said the cameras could provide some added peace of mind as the city looks for ways to address security concerns.
Wuebker said other communities have used similar systems to review incidents and assist law enforcement. He cited requests from police departments in Lake View and Templeton for footage related to investigations.
He emphasized, however, that the system would not mean someone is watching every camera around the clock.
Wuebker also explained that the city could preserve recordings if an incident were discovered after the normal retention period was about to expire.
Council members discussed beginning with approximately 10 to 12 cameras, with the option to add more as needed. Wuebker said adding cameras later would be possible, although additional locations would need the required networking infrastructure.
Funding remains another consideration. During the discussion, Wuebker offered to provide information about quarterly grants available through Corn Belt’s internet provider partner. He said eligible nonprofit projects can receive up to $1,500 per quarter, and the application process requires only a brief explanation of the proposed project.
Wuebker agreed to prepare a preliminary estimate based on 10 cameras and send it to city officials, along with information about the grant opportunity.
No purchase decision was made Wednesday. The council will first need to review the proposed costs, determine which locations should receive cameras and explore potential funding before deciding whether to move forward.