Sturgeon Bay Mayor David Ward believes the city’s police department is still well-equipped to do its job after the Sturgeon Bay Common Council declined to renew the contract for the Flock system license plate reader camera system, opting to let the current agreement expire.

The system was used by the Sturgeon Bay Police Department to assist in investigations and solve crimes in the community. At more than $52,000 a year, extending the contract for nearly two years would have cost significantly more than the $30,000 budgeted for the system.

Much of the 35 minutes of public comment focused on fears that the system could be hacked or that data would be shared with the federal government. Some residents expressed support for the system, saying it made them feel safer knowing the department was collaborating not only with other jurisdictions in the state, but also across the Midwest.

Ward said the department has access to other cameras in the city and believes he would have pushed for renewal if he thought police needed it.

Ward added that this was the latest example of the community voicing concerns and government officials listening and basing their decisions on that feedback.

The Sturgeon Bay Common Council also weighed extending a pair of tax increment districts to support affordable housing projects and extending a land purchase agreement deadline for a potential Cobblestone Hotel.