Michigan County to Enhance Safety with New Mobile Surveillance Systems

First responders in Grand Traverse County may soon have another tool to keep residents safe.

Emergency management is hoping to buy two mobile surveillance systems.

The surveillance systems could be used in multiple ways, from looking for a lost child to using the cameras in a hazardous materials incident, but the most common use will likely be at big events in places like the open space.

Emergency Management Coordinator Gregg Bird says Grand Traverse County doesn’t have anything with capabilities like this.

The two cameras are portable, and can be elevated 32 feet in the air in order to get a bird’s eye view.

He says most big cities have surveillance cameras mounted around for safety, and says in today’s climate with public attacks happening more often, it’s more important than ever to have these resources.

The cameras cost nearly $19,000 each, but the total cost is being covered by the State Homeland Security Grant Program.

The county commission simply has to approve the purchase of these surveillance cameras Wednesday at their commission meeting but it will not cost the county or tax payers any additional money.

Bird says he is hoping to have the cameras sometime this summer, but won’t know a specific date until after the purchase gets approved by commissioners.

Watch the full UpNorth news story.