Body cam upgrades

Body cameras currently used by the Purcell Police Department and the server which archives police video are obsolete, Purcell Police Chief Bobby Elmore told the city council Monday.

Elmore explained service is no longer available on the existing cameras, which are 5 to 7 years old.

“I was going to wait until July, but it’s getting worse and worse every day,” Elmore said, adding he didn’t want to upgrade the server using old software.

“I would like to get something as soon as possible,” he said.

The council agreed, approving a purchase order so Elmore can buy the $58,975 turn-key system of server, new body cameras and upgrades for the department’s fleet of police cars.

The Watch Guard system will include installation, training and 100 percent warranty for two years. After than, five additional years of warranty coverage may be purchased.

Elmore noted an anticipated $10,000 grant from the Oklahoma Municipal Assurance Group brings the price down to $48,975. 

OMAG representatives were at the meeting and said the grant check should be available this week.

David Weatherford, counsel for OMAG, conducted best governing practices training for the council and city administration at the meeting.

The training included a self assessment touching on 10 areas.

Participants were asked to rank Purcell from 1 to 10 on finance, governing body, meetings, employees, public image, crisis management, economic development, planning/goal setting, administration and communication.

A report on their responses will be compiled and shared with the participants at a future date.

Council member Danny Jacobs questioned the purchase of two used pickups for the water and sewer department.

The purchases were approved by city manager Dale Bunn, who is authorized to make purchases less than $25,000 without prior council approval.

The 2014 Ford F-150 cost $24,390 and the 2016 Ford F-250’s price was $23,100.

Jacobs was concerned because during budget workshops last year, there was verbal agreement to make no more capital improvement purchases outside of what had been budgeted.

A department spokesman explained the vehicles replaced were beyond repair. He added a third vehicle, a 1998 Dodge pickup, is also in bad shape and needs to be replaced.

“Wait four more months,” Jacobs told him.

With that warning, the council approved the purchase of the two pickups.

In other business, the council :

• adopted resolutions reserving 20 spaces at Hillside Cemetery as additional burial plots for veterans, 10 spaces for Potter’s Field and 6 spaces for Babyland;
• approved the appointment of Tyler Norcom to the Parks Board, replacing Josh Huff; and
• approved the appointment of Jason Midkiff and Katie Blue to the Library Advisory Board.

The Purcell Public Works Authority approved a $665.61 adjustment to a water bill at a vacant rental property owned by Charlie Clark.