Fort Myers Beach Town Manager Roger Hernstadt will be working with Flock Safety to install 6 cameras, including 2 at Matanzas Pass Bridge and two at Big Carlos Pass Bridge.
Flock is one of the two security companies the town has been working with to install new security cameras. Greenwire technologies is the other. Both companies are also vendors for the Lee County Sheriff’s Department.
The town council budgeted $25,000 for cameras but expects to exceed that total when all the cameras are installed.
The six Flock cameras will be primarily used to read license plates and feed that information to the Lee County Sheriff’s Department to help them track down criminals. The cameras are installed on poles and are solar powered. (Listen to our interview with Flock Security’s Josh Thomas HERE).
2 cameras will be installed on each bridge, one as drivers head onto the beach and one to capture plates as they head off the beach. Where the remaining two cameras are installed has not been determined yet.
The cost to the town for these six Flock cameras is $16,500 the first year (there’s a $1,500 implementation fee) and $15,000 every year after.
Greenwire did not provide the town council with an updated proposal in time for the meeting this week.
The Greenwire cameras would be more real-time coverage of hot-spot crime areas on the beach and would require power and a connection to the Internet. Video would also be stored to aid LCSO in any investigative work on criminal activities.
Times Square is one of the locations being mentioned for the Greenwire cameras. The Lani Kai is another, according to a Greenwire representative.
The town may also need to partner with local businesses depending on where the cameras are installed.