Ephrata club donates camera
A security camera purchased for Ephrata by the Kiwanis Club is planned for use at Sun Basin Plaza.
EPHRATA - The Ephrata Kiwanis Club is helping the city fight vandalism in the city parks.
The club agreed to donate about $5,000 to the city to purchase a security cameras. The city plans to use them to catch vandals at parks.
Club President Denis Plew made a presentation about the project during a recent city council meeting.
The club wanted to assist the city with the parks, Plew said, pointing to a parks master plan completed in 2009. The decision led to discussions with Recreation Director Ray Towry.
"Then we got to talking about what they needed at the present time," Plew said. "Ray came up with security cameras, so we volunteered some of our funds to the city for purchasing security cameras."
The city has experienced quite a bit of vandalism at the parks, Towry said.
"We've been doing some research during the past six to eight weeks, and found a small system we wanted to start with, so Kiwanis gave us a check to reimburse us for that purchase of $1,062," he said.
Councilmember Bruce Reim asked what else would be included with the cameras.
"Would we have a recording device to put it on? Do we have all the machinery that goes with it? Is it a night camera? Is it motion activated?" Reim asked.
The camera included all of the items, Towry said; adding the city is presently testing a couple systems.
"(An Ephrata police officer) was able to secure another type of trial period for no cost for a type of camera," he said. "The system we purchased with the Kiwanis funds right now has night vision, has a DVR setting, has a wireless transmission ... if it's set up correctly you can actually see what's (happening) on your iPhone."
The city is presently trying to get the camera working in a controlled environment before placing it in a park, Towry said.
Councilmember Stephanie Knitter asked which park Towry planned to use the camera in first.
"First, we're going to try it out at (Sun Basin) Plaza. That's where we're experiencing the most vandalism," Towry said.
Mayor Chris Jacobson thanked the Kiwanis for their donation, pointing out the club has donated a lot of items to the parks during the years.
"If it had been up to the city to get everything done, it wouldn't have gotten done," he said. "So, thank you."
The council accepted the donation.