Houston County Commissioners approve Flock Camera System

PERRY, Ga. — People in Houston County care about public safety. As a result of a county project, Houston and its several municipalities could soon be part of a large network spanning the United States, ensuring not only the safety of local citizens, but those who are passing though the county as well. Soon, Houston County could be a part of the Flock System.

District Attorney William Kendall presented the topic during the Dec. 6 Commissioner meeting.

Following the typical invocation, and the Pledge of Allegiance from Lt. Col. Kyle Grieves of Robins Air Force Base, Kendall began his presentation.

“Back in March, best I can tell, there were some desires expressed from law enforcement about crime suppression technology throughout the county,” Kendall said. “As is no secret, law enforcement has faced a lot of challenges with hiring and retention — that’s no rub against current leadership in law enforcement, but quite frankly, we’re in one of those times across out nation where everyone is facing that same issue. Having some kind of crime suppression technology system would serve as a force multiplier.”

According to Kendall, he, alongside several leaders in law enforcement, heard presentations from four different companies with four different systems. The final company standing was Flock Safety Inc.

“They provide a crime suppression system that is essentially a camera system that takes pictures of license plates,” Kendall explained. “It doesn’t take pictures of faces, it captures the rear end of a vehicle and its license plate, and it provides as a search tool for law enforcement to go on and search.”

According to Kendall, 70% of all crime involves a vehicle. The district attorney posed that this system will allow law enforcement to identify and track vehicles that were involved in a shooting, to identify the vehicle and potential location of someone who may be in trouble and even track a vehicle with an abducted victim inside as it heads out of the county.

With more than 20,000 cameras across the nation, the Flock System allows participating law enforcement agencies to search areas outside of their own, to identify a vehicle that may be outside of it.

The recommended cameras are solar-powered and operate off a cell phone signal. With four hours of south-facing sunlight, the cameras are capable of making more than 72,000 license plate reads. The system requires no hardwire internet function, and does not need an additional power source. Without the necessity of this infrastructure, the cameras can simply be moved to where they are most needed.

This system comes to the county, and in the future, to the county’s municipalities, as a group recommendation from the DA and the law enforcement representatives from each city.

Chairman Tommy Stalnaker thanked the DA for his work in pulling this together, and made a clarification to the public:

“The one question a lot of people asked was, how about speeding?” Stalnaker said. “Those cameras are not for speeding. The other question people asked was, are they for running red lights? They are not for running red lights — it’s strictly for criminal and humanitarian activity.”

The Sheriff’s Office’s Captain Clay Chambers, Centerville Police Chief Cedric Duncan, Perry Interim Police Chief Alan Everidge, Warner Robins Interim Police Chief Wayne Fisher and former Warner Robins Police Chief John Wagner, spoke of the necessity of these cameras as well. All of them agreed: the Flock System will act as a force multiplier, and could assist in ensuring the safety of Houston County’s citizens.

Centerville Councilman Edward Armijo and Perry Mayor Randall Walker spoke on the importance of a network like the Flock System, and the opportunity that comes from having a group of governments that work together like the they do in Houston County.

Finally, Commissioner Mark Byrd made a motion for the purchase of the necessary equipment and services to install the Flock System.

“Recognizing that public safety is a top priority to the citizens of Houston County and its cities, and in order to assist law enforcement in that regard, the Board of Commissioners desire to enter into a service agreement with Flock Group Inc., for the initial purchase of equipment and continued term services for four years necessary to implement the placement of crime suppression safety devices throughout Houston County,” Byrd said.

Byrd motioned that Chairman Stalnaker be approved to sign the agreement. Commissioner Jay Walker III seconded the motion. The item was unanimously approved. The placement of these cameras will begin before spring begins in the coming year

Following the Flock System presentation, the commissioners heard a presentation on a sustainability plan from the Middle Georgia Regional Commission.

MGRC Executive Director Laura Mathis and 21st Century Partnership’s Dan Rhoades provided information on the plan, a collection of future changes and developments that could ensure that Robins Air Force Base maintains its viability in the Middle Georgia community.

These actions include items within transportation, communication and even some legislation. The decision to take part in the sustainability plan was unanimously approved by the commissioners.

For more information on the Robins Air Force Base Sustainability Plan, you can visit robinsafbsp.com.

Earlier in the meeting, the commissioners were informed of an award presented to the Houston County Landfill from SWANA, for landfill management. This will mark the third year Houston County has received this award, the first being in 2006, and the second in 2012.

“None of this could have been accomplished without the support of our present, and many past commissioners,” Director of Operations Brian Jones said. “It may be only a simple raising of the hand, but it accomplishes a lot.”

Jones added that Stalnaker was recognized for his dedication in the solid waste industry.

“Chairman Stalnaker’s vision for the future has made the facility a model for the industry, making Houston County a leader in solid waste disposal and collection,” Jones said. “Because Tommy has laid the foundation, our children and grandchildren will not have to worry about trash, because of the work the chairman has accomplished during his tenure.”

Stalnaker thanked Jones for his kind words, but rebutted, telling the audience that it was not just he who made Houston County’s landfill a model for the industry, but everyone working with it together who had done that.

Shortly after, Warner Robins’ Interim City Administrator James Dodson presented Stalnaker with a plaque from the City of Warner Robins, thanking him for his service and “steadfast leadership.”

“I started work under his leadership in 1972, and served through 1989, when he left the county,” Dodson said. “I consider Tommy a mentor, he was a great boss, but most of all he’s a friend. The one thing that sticks out about Tommy: he’s a man of his work. He tells you he’s going to do something, you best believe he’s going to follow through with it. His leadership is demonstrated throughout this county.”

The final presentation of three, the Middle Georgia Regional Commission presented Chairman Stalnaker with a resolution honoring his 50 years of service.

MGRC Executive Director Laura Mathis following the presentation by thanking Stalnaker for his service.

“I’ve had the opportunity to work with you and your leadership on the Central Georgia Joint Development Authority and Project SOAP, addressing the encroachment issue, and all of the things associated with that project,” Mathis said. “I also spent a lot of time working with you on the TSPLOST, both times, and have great respect for your leadership and dedication to doing the right thing.”

Outside of these several presentations, the remainder of the meeting went through New Business per usual. The commissioners passed a number of items, including purchasing bids, appointments, agreements necessary for projects, and as always, the approval of the bills. Shortly after comments from each of the commissioners and the chairman, the meeting was adjourned.

To access the agenda, video or supporting documents for this meeting, visit the county’s website, or go to houstoncountyga.org/commissioner/meeting-minutes.cms.

Commissioner meetings are typically held on the first Tuesday of the month at 9 a.m. in the Board of Commissioners Chambers at the Perry Courthouse, or on the third Tuesday of the month at 5 p.m. in the Board of Commissioners Chambers of the Warner Robins Court House. The commissioners’ next meeting will be on Tuesday, Dec. 20, at 5 p.m.

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