Mount Prospect will keep closer eye on village hall

Mount Prospect officials will install seven security cameras about a block away from the village's police department.

The cameras will monitor the Mount Prospect village hall and adjacent parking deck, said Mike Dallas, the village's administrative analyst.

"Obviously, anyone with any knowledge of the community will know the police station is right there," Dallas said. "The main purpose of the cameras is to deter crime."

In the past few months, the village hall, at 50 S. Emerson St., has had minor vandalism, including one instance where someone threw watermelons off the parking deck, Dallas said.

It will cost about $32,000 to buy, install and train people how to use the cameras, which will be on all the time but only monitored occasionally, Dallas said.

"After 30 days, the video is written over or erased," he said. "We still have to determine a policy on what do with the tapes."

Police officers will have the main access to the system.

Mount Prospect will also install camera wiring inside the first floor of village hall, near the customer service window.

"We wanted to wire other locations so when we have the funds to purchase more cameras, we'll be ready," Dallas said.

The seven cameras the village did buy will be installed this April.