BUCYRUS, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—At the Bucyrus City Council’s regular meeting on November 5, Law Director Brandon Gobrecht delivered a letter aimed at clarifying the situation surrounding the cameras donated by Council President Kurt Fankhauser’s business, Wavelinc. In an effort to clear up any suspicions, Gobrecht told the council that Fankhauser receives no gain from donating the cameras and services. His company is regulated by the Federal Communications Commission, and he receives no tax incentives from the donation.
His remarks followed a series of public participation segments, primarily led by citizen Clarissa Slater, who raised concerns about Fankhauser’s use and access to these cameras.
Gobrecht assured the council that while Fankhauser has donated the use of certain cameras, he does not have access to the cameras operated by the Bucyrus Police Department, which are independently managed and secure from outside access.
He explained that the public cameras require internet service to function, which is also donated by Wavelinc. In an effort to enhance transparency, Bucyrus Mayor Bruce Truka announced plans to live stream the feeds from these cameras for public viewing.
To further address community concerns, Gobrecht suggested a solution: “The only cameras Fankhauser/Wavelinc can access are public or their own private cameras. The footage from these cameras is public record and can be requested by citizens. By allowing the camera feeds to be viewed as a live stream, anyone can access the footage at any time. This way, if someone wanted to observe the Shines Art Park continuously, they would no longer need to submit a formal public records request. This approach should alleviate concerns and clarify the situation.”
Some citizens were concerned about cameras in the park being accessible by any citizen or, even worse, predators. It was decided that the council committee would be able to specify which cameras would fall under the category of “public access.”
The council’s commitment to transparency and public accessibility remains a priority as discussions continue. Crawford County Now will continue to follow this developing story.
To read Law Director Gobrecht’s letter in full, click the link below.