NEWTON FALLS — After a lengthy discussion and hearing from several residents, village council voted 5-0 to begin photo traffic enforcement using speed cameras in school zones in the city to aim to slow down traffic and also generate funds for the newly restarted police department.

While several residents support the use of speed cameras, others spoke against, with some indicating plans to get a petition circulating to referendum the ordinance.

Fourth Ward Councilman Kevin Rufener said this was the first step with council supporting the program, and then the second step to get a contract developed before implementation.

Police Chief John Barco told officials that since the police department restarted July 1, its officers responded to 316 calls, issued 60 citations and made six criminal arrests. The department also hosted National Night Out in the village Tuesday, which is the first time Newton Falls has participated in the event since 2019, Barco said.

He said the village has money budgeted to run the department, but he is the only full-time employee. Barco said while the speed cameras are in place in the school zone, officers will be on the road making traffic stops.

“Speed cameras are a tool to help us rebuild to a full-time police department,” he said, indicating he is against a levy.

Barco said funds from the speed cameras can also be used for the parks or zoning, not just police.

“The funds can be used wherever needed,” he said.

Second Ward Councilman Brian Axiotis said he believes the cameras are “a cash grab” and would rather have police patrolling and giving out speeding tickets.

Rufener said the cameras are a deterrent to speeding.

“If you are speeding, you get a ticket,” he said.

Mayor David Hanson said there has been a lot of traffic issues with speeding, and the cameras are the best option.

“The cameras will help us to get people to slow down. It is not safe in some places. There are drivers who are flying through the city,” Hanson said.

Councilwoman-at-Large Julie Stimpert said council has looked at other options such as grants and other funding sources to run a police department.

First Ward Councilwoman Patricia Benetis said the traffic cameras will not replace normal police patrols.

WHAT RESIDENTS THINK

Resident Jim Luonuansuu, who has previously worked for the police department, said when the idea of using speed cameras was brought up years ago under different police chiefs, the ideas were shot down.

He said he is unaware of a child ever being hit by a car in the local school zone.

Luonuansuu said there are many residents against the speed cameras. He said residents have discussed gathering signatures and filing a petition for a referendum on the ballot to stop the speed cameras.

Resident Julie Lemon said she supports using the cameras but would like to eventually see data in a few months on how the cameras have helped slow down traffic in such areas.

Resident John Baryak said he supports bringing the police department back, but not with speed camera revenue. He said he spoke to Girard business owners who said speed cameras in that city have kept people from coming to the city.

He said he agrees the issue needs to be on the ballot as a referendum.

“How can this be sustainable? You can’t run a police department just on speeding tickets,” Baryak said.

Resident Brian Kropp said he was concerned with the monetary aspect of the speed cameras and the costs involved.

He said he would rather have the police stop drivers who are speeding and give them tickets.

He said getting revenue from the speed camera tickets is not a good way to get more full-time police officers, because many people do not pay those tickets.

“We need to look at a better way to fund the police department,” Kropp said, noting getting a ticket a few weeks later in the mail is not a deterrent.

Resident Laura Neiheisel said many residents have indicated to her they are not in support of the speed cameras.

Resident Adam Zimmermann said the speed cameras will be a way to help slow down speeding vehicles.

“I appreciate council for trying to find a revenue stream,” he said.

Zimmermann said residents will not support a levy for the police department.

He said if there is a downtown outdoor recreational area (DORA) he does not want someone who has been drinking too much speeding in the village.