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Youngstown eyes cameras as tool to capture illegal dumpers
YOUNGSTOWN
Tired of the dozens of illegal dumping sites in Youngstown, city council members say they plan to take action.
Members decided at a special meeting Thursday to introduce legislation, as early as May 18, to purchase up to 10 cameras to be placed at some of the worst dumping areas in an effort to crack down on the problem and prosecute those committing the illegal acts.
“This is something we started discussing about three years ago and put it off because of other budget priorities,” said Councilman DeMaine Kitchen, D-2nd. “But it’s getting worse, and we can’t put it off. It’s a safety issue. It’s a health issue. It’s a quality-of-life issue.”
Council members spoke Thursday with Rich Gilbertson, regional manager for Q-Star Technology, a Torrance, Calif.-based company, by teleconference about cameras.
Council wants to purchase up to 10 cameras and three fake cameras — the latter would be used to trick those who illegally dump debris on vacant lots that they’re being watched — possibly as early as this month. It would cost the city about $55,000 for the cameras. The fake cameras cost about $300 each.
“It’s been a longtime problem in the city,” said Councilwoman Annie Gillam, D-1st.
“We clean, and the lots get dumped again. The more remote the location, the more we get dumped on. I’m tired of cleaning up trash.”
Abdul Harris, an East Side resident who lives on Bank Street and owns three vacant properties nearby, said he’s been frustrated for years by the city’s lack of action in cracking down on those who illegally dump garbage.
“This should have been done a while ago,” Harris said as he showed a Vindicator reporter and photographer piles of garbage illegally dumped on his properties.
“I’ve been complaining for years. This is the most I’ve seen done.”
Harris said he’s skeptical that council members will implement the camera program, and if it’s done, he doubts they’ll be placed in areas that need them the most.
Harris’ properties and those nearby are covered in garbage, including a wooden bed frame, an easy chair, cinder blocks, wood, roofing shingles, milk crates, tires, glass, rugs and clothes.
“This could be prime land, but instead it’s a dumping ground,” he said. “People drive trucks here and dump all sorts of garbage, and nothing is done.”
During the conference call, Gilbertson said his company’s cameras can read a license plate 300 feet away, regardless of the time of day.
The cameras take still photos and work on a system that detects motion, he said. The photos from the litter cameras, with solar-powered batteries, would be directed to specific laptop computers allowing city officials to look at the pictures when they want and prosecute violators, Gilbertson said.
City council members said Thursday there is $30,000 in unused federal Community Development Block Grant funds that would be used to buy cameras.
Also, the city has verbal commitments of $10,000 from the Weed and Seed program and $12,000 from the Mahoning County Green Team, said Jennifer Jones, program coordinator for the city’s litter control and recycling division. The latter wants one of the cameras to be used in a part of the county outside Youngstown.
The city is waiting to hear by the end of the month from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources about a $10,000 grant to help pay for the cameras, Jones said.
Judge Robert Milich of Youngstown Municipal Court said the photos could be used as evidence against those caught illegally dumping trash.
Those found guilty could be sent to jail, placed on probation or be required to clean up dump sites as part of community service, he said.