MONROE, Ohio — Monroe City Council has voted to have the city's Flock Safety license plate cameras covered by November 6, reversing an earlier decision to leave the equipment untouched while awaiting removal by the company. Council voted 4-2 Tuesday night in favor of a motion by Councilman Todd Hickman to have the cameras “bagged.” Vice Mayor Christina McElfresh and Councilman Michael Graves opposed the measure, raising concerns about potential liability if the equipment is damaged. The latest action follows a September vote to discontinue Monroe's use of the automated license plate reader system amid concerns about privacy and the collection of vehicle information.
The issue also came up during Council's October 13 meeting, when Councilman Tom Hagedorn questioned whether the cameras were still operating. City Manager Larry Lester told Council that Monroe had sent Flock Safety a termination letter on October 7 and was awaiting further instructions from the company. Lester said Monroe Police were no longer using the system, but he could not confirm at that time whether the cameras were still collecting data. The cameras are solar-powered and remain supplied with electricity.
During that meeting, Hagedorn proposed covering the cameras until Flock Safety could remove them. Council members discussed using black trash bags, canvas bags or heavier contractor-grade bags. Acting Law Director John Roach warned that covering the cameras could expose the city to liability if the equipment were damaged. He also noted that he had not reviewed the city's contract with Flock Safety.
That motion failed 3-2, with McElfresh, Graves and Councilwoman Molly Cloyd voting against it.
At Tuesday's meeting, Lester said the cameras remain powered but have been decommissioned and are no longer collecting or storing data. The October 27 vote establishes a November 6 deadline for bagging the cameras. While the motion used the term “bagged,” the earlier Council discussion specifically involved placing coverings over the cameras while they remained mounted.
The equipment belongs to Flock Safety, which city officials have said is responsible for its eventual removal.
(Editor's Note: AI-Assisted Copy)
(Image: AI-Generated Illustration)
