Palos Heights Alderman Robert Basso said an arrest was made in the city thanks to the help of a license plate-reading camera. (Photo by Jeff Vorva)
License-plate reader leads to arrest in Palos Heights
By Jeff Vorva
Chalk one up for the Flock camera.
Palos Heights Alderman Robert Basso told the city council on Tuesday that a license plate-reading Flock Safety Camera that was installed months ago has resulted in an arrest.
“We have one camera up and running and the police have already solved a break-in robbery in our business district,” Basso said. “We will have a total of nine cameras, and we will be even safer than we are currently.
“So, I just want to remind everybody that the police department is doing a terrific job in keeping us all safe.”
Earlier this year, council approved nine Flock Safety Cameras to be installed in the city as a cost of $28,450 the first year and $22,500 annually in the following years.
The Flock cameras read license plates of those coming in and out of towns. Many towns in the Chicago suburbs are installing them and they will be of use to assist in identifying vehicles that might have been used in crimes.
New park hours
In an unconventional vote, the council approved changing the hours of city parks from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., a change from the current 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Because three aldermen – Jack Clifford, Jerry McGovern and Brent Lewandowski – were missing from the meeting, only five of the eight council members voted.
At first, the vote was 4-1 with Heather Begley casting the “no” vote. Since five votes were needed for it to pass, Mayor Bob Straz received a rare vote and he voted for it, so it passed 5-1.
Road closure
The council was informed there will be a road closure on 127th Street at Route 83 starting Friday.
There is a two-week window for construction in that area, but it will likely be completed in one week, according to Basso.
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A mayor can only vote to break a tie. Not that we should expect elected officials to follow the rules
Great job, we need them all over the
State of
Illinois
It should be “Has been used in a crime.”