New security cameras at Bridgeport City Hall; more may be coming around town

Bridgeport City Hall is now on camera, and Bridgeport City Council members and residents are looking for ways to spread some of those cameras around town.

The camera system around city hall went up last week; there are now security cameras inside and outside the building. Nancine Hawkins and Dave Lorz, owners of Nell's Cafe, and Scott Wright, who owns the old flour mill, asked about donating money for additional cameras at the regular council meeting Wednesday, Nov. 12. Those cameras would be placed around town, to act as deterrents or provide some evidence in cases of vandalism or theft. Council member Kevin Morris is a sergeant with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, and he said he would research the possibility of establishing a cooperative between the city, sheriff's office and residents for people who want to buy their own cameras.

In other business, council members discussed the possibility of using about $2,500 in DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) funds to help pay for remodeling of the law enforcement quarters in the back of city hall.

The sheriff's office has abolished its DARE program; Mayor Steve Jenkins has suggested using the money left in that fund to help pay for some of the remodeling. Morris said part of the space will be remodeled into an interview room and a rear exit will be added for emergencies.

Council members reviewed and approved two letters touching on water issues; one will go to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the second to the Washington Department of Health.

The letters were discussed and council members approved writing them at the Oct. 22 council meeting. The letter to DOH says city officials may revoke their status as sole water purveyors within the city's urban growth boundary, which could clear the way for exempt wells for domestic water. The letter sent to the Corps of Engineers says city officials may not be able to keep providing water to the Corps property at Chief Joseph Dam. Council members voted 4-0 to approve and send the letters; council member Neil Jacobson abstained.