OTTUMWA — Police officers rely on their in-car video recording systems during stops, and when those break down, they can lose a key piece of evidence.

At next week’s Ottumwa City Council meeting, the council will vote on the purchase of a server and related computer equipment for the police department’s digital video recording system from Mobile-Vision, Inc. for $21,220.

“We have had problems with some of the parts starting to break down,” said Ottumwa Police Chief Jim Clark. “They’re anywhere from five to eight  years old, so some of the replacement parts are expensive when all you’re doing is one part or two parts at a time. So we want to just update the whole camera system.”

The in-car digital video recording system is used to record officer activity.

“The camera system breaks down while officers are relying on them to video tape what they’re doing,” Clark said. “When they play the tape back for evidentiary purposes and the camera didn’t work, then that’s a critical piece of evidence they’ve lost for drunken driving charges, any type of crime where they rely on video for evidence. We’ve had a number of those.”

When officers encounter a hiccup like that, they have to simply move on with the case or charge without that piece of evidence, Clark said.

The systems have been in Ottumwa’s police cars for 10-15 years now, though they used to use VHS tapes. Today, everything is digital with video sent back to a server, which can be brought up on law center computers and saved to a DVD.

“Any department our size or larger has cameras,” Clark said. “Certainly there are some that don’t because they don’t have the funding, but those are smaller communities.”

Clark said it’s necessary to continue with Mobile-Vision because the components are not interchangeable between manufacturers; otherwise they would have to purchase all new systems instead of just an upgrade.

The project is being divided into two phases. The first is to purchase the server and related computer equipment, which will be paid for through the 2011 CIP Program. This will be purchased in the next month, Clark said.

The second is to buy the upgraded camera system for the cars — the most important piece of the puzzle — using $30,000 in grant funding from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau.

“We won’t get those funds made available until Oct. 1,” Clark said.



Transit route changes

“I think it’s time to revisit our routes and our schedule,” said Ottumwa Transit Executive Director Diane Gawronski. “I’m not sure when that was done last, but ridership has changed just due to development that’s happening in our community.”

That development includes Pizza Ranch, the upcoming Kohl’s store, the new walk-in clinic near Kmart and new stores coming to Quincy Place Mall.

“I’m sure then ridership will increase in that area,” Gawronski said.

Another growing area is near the airport, including Iowa Workforce Development and Job Corps.

“Some of the more traditional routes, actually ridership has gone down a little bit,” Gawronski said. “I think people are still wanting to come downtown to do business at City Hall, go to the library, but some of the routes are changing, so we’re bringing in a consultant to help take a look at that.”

The council will vote to approve a fixed-route technical assistance proposal from Bourne Transit Consulting, LLC.

Bob Bourne, retired Ames Transit System administrator, submitted the proposal.

“He is very well thought of by the IDOT, and I know the city of Ottumwa did some work with him last summer in trying to become more compliant after the investigation,” Gawronski said.

First, Gawronski wants input from bus drivers since they drive the routes every day. Next, she’s looking at a community survey.

“And we would never act on any recommendation to change the routes and schedules unless we did a public hearing before implementation,” Gawronski said.



New door at Bridge View

Enlarging the overhead door in the exhibition hall at Bridge View Center would significantly increase the number of business conferences that BVC holds, City Administrator Joe Helfenberger said.

The council will vote to approve a contract to retain FEH Associates, Inc. for the bid process and contract administration for the enlargement of the door for a cost not to exceed $5,200.

John Deere is thinking of bringing its national dealer conference every other year to BVC if the door is enlarged, starting in January.

John Deere has contributed $40,000 toward the project, and FEH Associates has estimated construction would be more than $71,000.

The rest of the funds would come from the furniture, fixtures and equipment fund that remains from the original construction of the center.

Currently, the door opening is tall enough but not wide enough to allow larger pieces of John Deere equipment. The door would need to be widened from 16 feet to 24 feet.



Also on the agenda:

• Approval of David Lowe to the position of police officer, effective Aug. 20. Lowe would fill an opening caused by the retirement of Ken Rempe in June. Lowe has a bachelor’s degree in Spanish with a minor in criminal justice from Western Illinois University.

• Approval of an agreement between the city and Calhoun-Burns & Associates, Inc. to conduct the 2012 Bridge Inspection and Load Rating Program. The city’s 18 bridges must be inspected every two years to be in compliance with the IDOT inspection program and to qualify for Highway Bridge Program funding.

The council will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in council chambers at City Hall. The meeting will air live on GO-TV, cable channel 6.