NEWTON FALLS — Village officials are looking at different options to generate funds to help bring back the police department, with speed cameras and levies among them.

Falls officials met Wednesday to hear from Newburgh Heights Mayor Trevor Elkins, who discussed how he works with municipalities and police departments as a liaison with speed camera companies through his company, Targeting and Solutions Limited. The company also works with Hiram and Windham in Portage County. Newburgh Heights is in Cuyahoga County.

He said the cameras would take photos of the rear license plates of vehicles going more than 10 mph over the posted speed limit or speeding in school zones. Elkins said the citation is then mailed to the owner of the speeding vehicle.

Elkins said the cameras also can be used as automatic license plate readers if a community chooses that option. License plate readers are used by many communities, including Niles, to notify police of stolen vehicles or drivers with warrants who are driving in the community.

He said Newton Falls could issue 25,000 citations per year based on traffic flow, noting the village has a high volume of traffic.

“You are allowing the public to help fund the police department without having to go to voters for a levy. This way, people who break speeding laws pay a fine,” Elkins said, noting the cameras help cut down on speeding in communities where they are used.

He said 72% of people who receive tickets pay the fine.

Elkins said if the village approves an agreement for speed cameras, 60% of the fine revenue goes to the village and 40% goes to Targeting and Solutions Limited for the cameras and processing of ticket costs.

He said the cameras cost $80,000, with the village required to contribute $25,000 over five or more months for the startup costs.

COUNCIL REACTIONS

Councilman Brian Axiotis, D-2nd Ward, said the residents should decide if they want the police department back, but speed cameras are not the way to generate money.

He said residents voted against a levy to raise funds to restart the police department two years ago. Axiotis said he is against the cameras, noting tickets show up months later and are not about slowing speeders down, but creating “a cash flow.”

“The cameras are very unpopular and people would not come here because of them, which would hurt local business. I struggle with this because it is a money grab with Big Brother watching,” he said.

Mayor David Hanson said there needs to be some way to generate funds to cover costs for the police department, suggesting a levy may be the solution.

“We need to consider everything seriously,” Hanson said.

Councilwoman Brenda Persino, D-3rd Ward, said the police department is needed and should be brought back.

“We need to be thinking of ways of how to bring the police department back. We have had many break-ins of cars and homes,” Persino said.

She said residents should have the opportunity to provide input on the cameras or a levy.

“Let the residents have a voice of what they want,” Persino said.

Councilwoman Julie Stimpert, D-at Large, said the cameras can help deter speeding in the village whether by local residents or those visiting.

“If they are speeding and they get caught either from an officer getting out of a car or a speed camera, regardless of whether they live in town or not, they can hurt or kill somebody,” she said.

Councilman Kevin Rufener, D-4th Ward, said the speed cameras “are just an option being looked at” but agreed that for many it is a “cash grab.”

Resident Jim Luonuansuu, who has 20 years in law enforcement, told council members they would be making a big mistake by bringing speed cameras into the community.

“We do not need police sitting in cars pointing cameras at people. We need them getting out of their cruisers making the traffic stops. The cameras can’t detect drugs or guns in vehicles that an officer making a stop and getting out of the car may see or if the driver smells like he has been drinking. The police can see what is going on in the car and a camera can’t,” he said.

Luonuansuu said the communities with speed cameras often take months to send the citations in the mail, noting Willoughby Hills took 10 months.

Interim Village Manager Mike Novotny said an income tax issue should also be considered as an option to raise money to support the police department

Council also passed a motion to advertise for the police chief position.

Stimpert said police Chief Gene Fixler will stay in place until council decides what to do with the position and if there are any applicants.