One of several CCTV cameras being installed in downtown Fort Frances. Image: Randy Thoms

Another step is complete toward the use of new surveillance cameras in Fort Frances.

The town’s police services board is signing off on the necessary policies and user agreements.

Chair John McTaggart says their approval is one of the last pieces in what has been a lengthy process.

“It’s been, I think, a much larger project than anyone anticipated. Jeremy (Hughes, Information Technology Manager) has done an absolutely tremendous job bringing it all together, and this needs to be in place before we start to use the cameras,” says McTaggart.

OPP still have to give their approval, as does the town through a formal by-law.

Some of the cameras are already in place.

“We’ve got all of the building-attached cameras installed. That’s been the case for some time. We are proceeding with pole installations for cameras. (We) do have two deployed (on Church Street), and we’ve got two on Portage Avenue installed as well. We may proceed with some more installation this week,” says Hughes.

He says it is just a matter of time before the cameras are functioning.

The cost of the project came in at about $340 thousand dollars.

A government grant offset about half the installation costs, with the rest covered by the town.