CEDAR CITY — On Wednesday, the Cedar City Council approved the installation of security cameras in the Downtown Parking garage and outside of the Heritage Theatre in response to vandalism and slashed tires.
Council members considered a bid of about $29,856 from Red Mountain Technology Solutions for a video surveillance system as the parking garage has had “some issues for a number of years,” city manager Paul Bittmenn said at the work meeting held the week prior.
There have been reports of vandalism, graffiti and fires in the stairwells, Bittmenn said.
“And then it kind of came to a head a few months ago when an individual went in and slashed the tires on, I don’t know, a couple dozen of our vehicles,” he said.
It cost the city an estimated $9,000-10,000 to replace the tires, Bittmenn said.
The man, now identified as 28-year-old Isaac Halstead, was later apprehended, as Cedar City News reported. He was charged with second-degree felony criminal mischief due to the damages being estimated at $12,000 at the time and four counts of assault by a prisoner. He was also given an unrelated charge of possessing a firearm by a restricted person.
Halstead remains in Iron County Jail and his trial is scheduled for October.
There is concern about “vandalism and vagrancy” at the north end of the theatre near the back stairs leading to Festival Hall, Bittmenn said. Additionally, staff are worried about safety when using the walkway between the parking garage and the theatre, as they’ve encountered individuals sleeping in the bushes some mornings.
For these reasons, the city requested bids to complete the project and four companies responded. One was “difficult to read” and lacked needed information but the other three were “very good companies,” Bittmenn said.
Red Mountain Technology Solutions ranked high in affordability and offered to install 4K, ultra-high-definition cameras, Bittmenn said.
“So they’re actually pretty useful,” Council member Tyler Melling said.
The company works out of St. George and the St. George Regional Airport recommended them. The Washington County School District also uses them throughout its school system.
Additionally, the company does not require a monthly fee for the software or storage and retrieval of video, Bittmenn said.
Councilmember Ron Riddle said that he’s worked with the company “a lot” in schools.
“I know a lot of them quite well,” he said. “So they’re a pretty good bunch to work around.”
To view the entire discussion on the Cedar City Council YouTube channel, click here.
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