More Speed Cameras Approved

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Traffic flows along the northbound lanes of Interstate 380 as workers install speed cameras on a road sign north of the H Avenue NE interchange on Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2010, in northeast Cedar Rapids. (Jim Slosiarek/SourceMedia Group News)

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By Aaron Hepker

Story Created: May 1, 2012 at 11:47 AM CDT

Story Updated: May 1, 2012 at 11:48 AM CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa - Polk County supervisors took another step Tuesday to add automated speed cameras.

Supervisors met Tuesday morning and approved a resolution to authorize negotiations with Gatso USA for the development and implementation of a photo speed enforcement program in the areas of Polk County patrolled by the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

The vote was 3 to 2 in favor of adding of the resolution with E.J Giovannetti and Robert Brownell voting against it.

Brownell said he was not in favor of the cameras because they generate a lot of revenue but he never see any cuts in the budget so he believes they tend to be more of a revenue generator.

Many of the board members said they backed the resolution because Polk County Sheriff Bill McCarthy wanted the cameras and they trusted his judgment.

Supervisors also said they supported the cameras because if they saved one life they were worth it. Some supervisors also criticized WHO radio talk show host Jan Mickelson for his opposition to the cameras.

McCarthy met with the board again last week to discuss the proposal to add an automated traffic camera on Highway 141 near Grimes and one on East University in southeastern Polk County. McCarthy said the cameras would reduce the number of crashes and increase safety.

The proposal was first discussed in November 2011. Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Jana Rooker said the department was looking at a camera system similar to the ones used in Des Moines and Cedar Rapids.

Gatsco installs and operates the cameras at no cost, but then takes a portion of each ticket paid to finance the camera system.

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