Homer Glen will store data obtained from its license plate reader cameras for seven days in an effort to balance public safety with some residents’ concerns over an intrusion of privacy.
The village will also only limit information collected from the cameras to be shared within Illinois, according to a memo of understanding between the Village Board and the Will County sheriff’s office.
The board voted 5-1 Wednesday to approve the policy with the sheriff’s office, which provides the village’s police services.
In most communities, data from the cameras is stored 30 to 90 days, Trustee Robert Schaller said. But Homer Glen residents have expressed concern keeping the data for 30 days was too much like “Big Brother,” he said.
Schaller, a former police chief, said he doesn’t anticipate there will be too many issues where important data will be lost if it is deleted after a week.
The agreement does allow some exceptions, including requests to preserve data for a criminal investigation sent to the sheriff’s office from an Illinois law enforcement agency within that seven-day period or if there is a valid court order or subpoena.
Schaller said only the Will County sheriff’s office has access to the license plate reader data and village officials cannot see the information that is collected. There is also no sharing the data with federal partners.
The Homer Glen Village Board in December approved installing 12 license plate readers on key access points in the village.
The Flock camera system is designed to read a license plate number, state information and a vehicle’s make, model and color. The cameras are not used to write tickets for speeding or other traffic violations, but can help deter crime or locate missing or endangered people, officials have said.
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Critics of the system say its an invasion of privacy that creates a mass surveillance network and tracks innocent people during their daily travels.
Trustee Mike Lepore, who voted against installing the Flock cameras, also voted against the agreement with the sheriff’s office, saying it was government overreach.
Homer Glen residents voted against installing Flock cameras via an advisory referendum in 2023.
Long Run Creek
The board is also considering updating its Long Run Creek watershed action plan, which was drafted in 2014.
An update could cost about $50,000, which would be considerably less than if it started a new plan from scratch, village engineer Brett Westcott said.
Residents living along Long Run Creek said the creek has caused flooding issues, in part due to downed trees, debris or beaver dams.
If the village moves forward on an updated plan, it could identify key areas that could benefit from improvements such as vegetation management or bank stabilization, Westcott said.
Also, the village would be more likely to receive grants to help pay for water quality improvements if it had an updated plan, he said.
Village officials plan to reach out to residents living along the creek to see if there are any significant blockages that is causing problems.
Birthday celebration
In recognition of Homer Glen’s 25th birthday, the village is asking residents to donate a birthday box as part of its annual food drive for the Lockport FISH Food Pantry.
The birthday boxes are an initiative with the village’s Ability Awareness Committee.
The boxes should contain items such as cake or brownie mix, frosting, a foil cake pan, candles and a spatula or whisk for mixing. Items such as a plastic tablecloth and small plates or napkins can also be added to create a festive celebration.
The village is celebrating its 25th year since it incorporated April 17, 2001, and plans events throughout the year including at Homer Fest and the Sept. 5 parade.
The goal is to donate 25 birthday boxes each month to the food pantry, said Amy Blank, the village’s events and communications coordinator.
Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.