Oakland PD to institute plate reader program

The town of Oakland is growing at a rapid rate — with four residential neighborhoods currently under construction — and police are anticipating the crunch of all the extra traffic that is bound to accompany the influx of new residents.

A report from Deputy Chief John Peek, of the Oakland Police Department, was presented to the Town Commission at its Oct. 8 meeting that outlined the details of a program the OPD is purchasing.

A radar traffic trailer will display the speed of oncoming motorists and has two cameras that can capture license plates from vehicles moving toward or away from the trailer.

With the license plate reader software and technology, Peek said, police will instantly be able to identify stolen vehicles, expired tags, registered owners with criminal warrants and traffic warrants, drivers with suspended or expired licenses, and vehicles tagged for intelligence from other law enforcement agencies.

Amber and Silver alerts can be loaded into the system, as well.

The department is purchasing the program through Vetted Solutions because it is commonly used by other departments in Florida and Oakland can connect to the vast network.

The total cost is $44,400 for the first year for the complete package: $30,000 for a refurbished traffic trailer and camera system, $1,500 one-time cost for officer training, $1,800 to retrofit three patrol vehicles with a trailer hitch, $2,650 per year for warranty (with an option of paying three years in advance at $7,950) and $1,050 licensing fee ($3,150 for three years).

After that, annual costs include maintenance and continued licensing.

Law enforcement impact fees will be used for the purchase and subsequent fees.

IN OTHER NEWS

• The commission approved Kimley Horn to provide CDBG engineering, design and construction services for work related to the Community Development Block Grant the town was awarded earlier this year. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity is providing $600,000 in grant funds to be spent on neighborhood revitalization.

• In the town manager staff report, Finance Director Renee Mullen announced that water rates are increased each Oct. 1 based on the Consumer Price Index. This year’s increase is 1.75%, which means the minimum bill will increase 31 cents — from $17.49 to $17.80. The city of Clermont notified Oakland of a 2.36% increase in the wastewater intergovernmental wholesale rate, but the town is not increasing its wastewater rates at this time.

• Officials voted in favor of a resolution that accepts the jurisdictional transfer of three road segments from Orange County into the town because the town recently has more than 50% of the frontage along these roads. The town will maintain Orange Avenue from West Colonial Drive to its dead end, Hull Island Drive between Simeon Road on the south and its dead end on the north, and J.W. Jones Road from State Road 438 to Lake Apopka Boulevard.

• The town approved a stipulated settlement agreement between two neighbors — Martin and Margaret Thompson, 31 Vandermeer Ave., and James and Anya Payne, 41 Mulholland St. — regarding an ongoing drainage issue. According to Town Planner Jay Marder’s report to the commission, “the drainage relates to pool-related patio improvements (on the Thompson property) that were built in the drainage-utility easement, including a wall that was partially built on the (Payne) site.”

The town discovered a permitting issue with Orange County and incomplete work on the project; and town staff and consultants have been working since 2015 to resolve this issue and stop the storm water from flowing onto the Payne property. There have been two imposed liens, accrued fines of close to $300,000 and a lawsuit in an attempt to resolve the matter.

Per the settlement agreement, the Thompsons must make site improvements within 60 days. The town will retain all rights to the utility/drainage easement and has the authority to make modifications deemed reasonable without repairing or replacing any damage incurred during the work. The Thompsons also must pay town expenses incurred up to $2,500.