By Stephen Nelson
The Bradley Village Board at its meeting on Monday, October 14, voted to approve an additional $20,000 in funds that can be distributed to homeowners who agree to install security cameras on their residences that can be accessed by the police department as crime fighting tools. Each homeowner who installs such a device can receive up to $200 under the rebate program that began two years ago.
In the first year the rebate was offered, 120 homeowners received the rebate and, so far in the second year, 116 homeowners received it, exhausting the $20,000 already allocated to the program. Bradley’s Village Administrator Craig Anderson said there is already a waiting list of 50 residents who would like to participate. Mayor Mike Watson said the budget for the current fiscal year will have to be amended to account for the additional funds added to the rebate program.
In other business, the Bradley Village Board also approved an ordinance requested by Bradley Police Chief Don Barber that he hopes will help put an end to transient camping in parks and other public places. Under the ordinance, if someone is discovered to be staying overnight in a village park or a parking lot, they can be removed and jailed for the offense, charged with criminal trespass. However, Barber said that would be a last resort.
“They likely would be issued a ticket with a summons to appear in court,” Barber said. Only repeat offenders, who refuse a police request to pack up and move on would likely be sent to jail.