Committee accepts $17,200 grant for mobile surveillance camera, approves several licenses

The Safety and Licensing Committee voted 5-0 to accept a $17,200 grant to purchase a mobile night‑vision surveillance camera system, and separately approved four license applications contingent on departmental sign‑offs.

Chief Olsen told the committee the camera is a stand‑alone, night‑vision capable unit that is not connected to automatic license‑plate‑reader networks and is not searchable; it can be deployed temporarily on a pole, tripod, or vehicle and relocated as needed. The grant requires no local match.

Separately the committee approved four license applications — including a tobacco/vaping license and a Class B beer license — by a 5-0 vote; those approvals are contingent on final departmental sign‑offs. Committee members also noted two additional alcohol‑license convictions on the record for informational purposes.

The clerk’s office closed the meeting with an election update: absentee ballots are being mailed, a dropbox is open, in‑person absentee voting begins March 24, and public testing of voting machines is March 31.