The Mount Carmel City Council has approved moving forward with installing a new Flock Safety camera system to help monitor traffic coming in and out of the city.
City Clerk Ryan Turner said the city’s TIF advisors confirmed the cameras are an eligible expense under the program.
The system will include three cameras, positioned at the main entrances to Mount Carmel, and will capture both incoming and outgoing vehicle license plates.
The first-year cost of the project will be $23,900, which includes installation and setup. After that, the annual renewal cost will be $10,000.
The Flock camera system is designed to help law enforcement identify vehicles involved in crimes, track stolen cars, and enhance overall community safety.
Police Chief Mike McWilliams and city officials discussed a proposal to install a Flock Safety camera system — high-tech license plate readers that can detect stolen vehicles and alert officers in real time.
“Flock Systems put cameras at the entrance of town that would recognize stolen vehicles and a number of other things.”
The cameras would be placed at three main entry points into Mount Carmel. Officials say they could help investigators quickly identify suspects in break-ins, car thefts, or other crimes — and provide valuable leads when time matters most.
“If something comes through stolen or wanted, it’s going to flag that and send it to the officers that are working.”
Supporters say the system could have made a difference in past cases, including car thefts from local dealerships. Mount Carmel will join other communities across southern Illinois already using the technology.