The city of Columbus is conducting maintenance work on its camera system along the Riverwalk.
Walter Wickham, the city’s IT director, said work is in progress to replace or repair about three cameras. He said there are 16 cameras along the walking path’s 2.5 miles.
Most of the cameras are a few years old — Wickham said he’s been on the job for about four years and nearly all of the cameras have been in place at least that long.
He said it’s a slow process that’s been going on for about three months.
New cameras cost $400. Installation costs about $85. Wickham said additional costs for digging and laying cable vary from camera to camera.
Wickham said the city is waiting to install one new camera and has two or three that need to be adjusted.
For example, he said one camera, near Ruben’s Fish and Steakhouse, works fine during the day but displays a very poor picture at night.
Maintaining the Riverwalk’s camera system is a constant task, Wickham said, as they need adjusting or repair from age or other reasons.
“We replaced five last year — one on the bridge and four underneath,” he said. “The Riverwalk has always been a work in progress. If someone breaks or cuts a cable while they’re digging or something, we have to get it fixed. It’s been an ongoing process trying to keep the cameras going.”
Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.
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