Sarah Scully, Anchor/Reporter
Flock camera questions answered by Madison County Deputy Sheriff Van Duncan June 10 after contentious County Commissioners meeting June 9.
See that meeting here: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Gmra8BEXZ/?mibextid=wwXIfr
He said the final contract with Flock should be finalized by Friday. The original 7 license plate reading cameras with a different company were installed in 2021.
Talks began with Flock in about Oct. 2025, with the new cameras going up in those original 7 locations, and 5 more cameras elsewhere in the county along major roads.
The sheriff’s office originally wanted to install 17 cameras at a cost of $3,500 each per year, but conditions such as adequate cell signal and solar panel ability did not work out in 5 locations.
There are now 12 Flock cameras located around the county. I inquired about a map, but Van Duncan said that could impede future investigations or lead to vandalism.
The cost of the cameras is paid in half by private community donors and in half by county taxpayer funds. The sheriff’s office requests a budget every year, the county commissioners decide on the approved amount, and then the sheriff has discretion on how to spend those funds, said Van Duncan.
I will have an interview tomorrow with two locals who reached out to me a while ago with their concerns. Some of the questions I asked came from them, while others came from Facebook messages and my own intuition.
I do have some paperwork from the sheriff and am waiting on one piece from the sheriff’s office. I will keep y’all updated.
