Public works committee backs further review of $22,400-a-year fleet camera proposal

Highway staff told the Richland County Public Works Committee that a camera-and-telemetry system from Samsara would add forward- and side-facing video, GPS tracking and live-streaming capability to the county fleet at an estimated annual licensing cost of $22,400 on a three-year term.

"It's GPS, so it tracks where the truck goes. It tracks its miles per hour," the highway presenter said, explaining the system would also allow staff to retrieve video evidence after crashes. The presenter said the vendor was offering live streaming at no additional charge as part of the package.

Board members asked whether the cost covers equipment and how the county would procure the service; staff clarified the quoted sum is a recurring licensing/service fee rather than a one-time equipment purchase. Members also raised privacy concerns and noted law-enforcement vehicles typically use different, specialized systems.

The committee did not authorize purchase. Instead, members voted to send the proposal to the finance committee for budget review and asked staff to arrange a vendor presentation that would detail contract length, startup obligations and department-level budget impacts. The item will return to committee after finance provides guidance.