Sugarcreek Borough Council heard from police chief Bob Wenner at the panel’s monthly meeting Wednesday about steps Wenner has taken to beef up security at the Rocky Grove playground.
Borough administrator Joe Sporer had talked about damage being done to the pavilion at the playground at council’s meeting last September.
Sporer said kids were throwing basketballs at the ceiling of the pavilion, which was messing with the molding and underlay of the ceiling.
The playground was discussed again at the October council meeting, and councilman Larry Baughman suggested that a hidden camera system be hooked up, adding that he wants “to apprehend people before going to the step of eliminating the basketball court.”
Council directed Wenner to get a camera system in place at that meeting.
On Wednesday, Wenner updated council on the camera system that will be able to monitor all the equipment in the playground.
Wenner said Canadohta Security will install the cameras for $4,840, and the company said the best place for a receiver, which Wenner described as similar to a wireless router, is in the Rocky Grove Volunteer Fire Department building.
The chief received approval from the fire department board of directors to place the equipment at the fire hall. He told council on Wednesday the cameras are vandalism and weather proof.
Borough solicitor Brian Spaid suggested putting signage up on the playground to let the public know they are under video surveillance, and Wenner said there will be signage at every entrance.
Wenner also said there will be detection of movement capabilities in the pavilion, and any movement detected between from 10 p.m. to 5 p.m. will be directed to the police department’s phones and computers.
Council approved having the cameras installed.
In other business at Wednesday’s meeting, Sporer told council members that the Jewish Cemetery and Burial Association of Pittsburgh has donated $1,000 to the borough this year for maintenance and caretaking of the Jewish cemetery across from the borough office.
Sporer also said the former Mong’s Fast and Fresh building will be remodeled for use as a bakery and cafe.
Zoning officer Larry Moyer said Thursday a borough resident will remodel the building for his daughter, who likes to bake.
“It was in a residential district, that’s why a variance had to be granted,” Sporer said.
Moyer is just waiting to hear back from the family that is remodeling the building, Sporer said Wednesday.
Council member Bogan Goughler told borough maintenance foreman Doug Freer that a Reno resident thinks there should be a guard rail around where the footbridge was taken out on Transit Street.
The footbridge was removed in January after Venango Water Sewage owner Kevin Rhodes raised concerns in December about the bridge collapsing, and council decided in January to remove the bridge.
Freer said he would look into the guardrails.
In another matter, council approved advertising for bids for road maintenance materials and equipment, including but not limited to antiskid, aggregates and pipe.
Council also approved holding a borough spring clean-up day from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 29.
Spaid said he hopes to have the speed limit ordinance for Shaffer Run Road ready for approval at the April 5 council meeting.
And assistant Rocky Grove fire chief Dan Marvin told council the department has received a federal grant for training purposes.
