The Prescott City Council approved the purchase and installation of a four camera Flock Camera System for the police department at a cost of $29,000, along with an annual subscription cost of $3,000 per camera for a total of $12,000.

Police Chief Eric Michaels presented the council with information on the system and to clarify common misconceptions. He feels that installing FLOCK cameras at all ingresses in the City of Prescott will improve the security framework and contribute to the safety and well-being of Prescott’s residents and visitors.

“This is not a deal where we’re going to get information as you drive by,” he said.

Michaels explained that the camera system can do live viewing but there’s no information that is going to come to the police department except alerts, such as missing persons alerts.

He further explained that the camera system would benefit public safety by alerting if a stolen vehicle enters town.

“I know Big Brother watches a lot and this is not one of those instances,” he said.

Michaels said the system is web-based and can be added to in the future.

Alderperson Mike Gerke asked how long it would take to be installed. Michaels expressed his frustration that he couldn’t give a date to the council because there is such a delay on equipment but said the price is locked.

Community survey

A community survey will soon be coming to Prescott residents. The council approved the survey about the planning of a future park to be included at the Great Rivers Subdivision.

City Planner Carter Hayes said Great Rivers Park is on the horizon and with it being a blank canvas, the city wanted to receive community input. He said the city wants to “generate some kind of plan moving forward” so they can put together a master park plan.

The Great Rivers Subdivision is located on the eastern boundaries of Prescott just 1 1/2 miles south of downtown at Highway 35 on 570th Avenue along the St. Croix River.

The City of Prescott has entered into an agreement with Rainbow Treecare in Minnetonka to create an inventory of trees in the city’s right of way for $6,450 to be completed later this year. Hayes explained that it’s beginning to add up in terms of responsibility for the city with all the dead and dying ash trees.

“This tree inventory would kind of aid in that in determining one, verifying the location and two, gauging the condition of the tree,” Hayes said.

“I think this is a really good idea,” Alderperson Maureen Otwell commented.

Mayor Robert Daugherty asked if the city has a plan to replace the boulevard trees in the future.

“We could,” Hayes answered, but stated they wouldn’t choose ash trees. 

Later during public comment, former Alderperson Pat Knox again approached the council and said during his time as a council member, he felt the council had made a mistake in reference to the boat launch. As the council is in the next phase of the redevelopment of the Riverfront Park, he urged them to look at options to repair the boat launch to be able “to somehow handle floods.”

“Currently our boat launch has not been usable for about a month and a half,” he said, talking about the loss of revenue. “Folks aren’t real happy when they know that we spent money on a boat launch that they can’t use.”