Joliet To Spend $117,000 For Downtown Parking Garage Video Surveillance Cameras

JOLIET, IL — Now that Joliet is finishing up the construction of the new downtown city square, city officials are urging the Joliet City Council to spend nearly $117,000 to install a video security surveillance system inside the city-owned Ottawa Street Parking Deck.

The proposed expense of $116,928 is on the agenda for Tuesday night's meeting. Chris Sternal, Joliet's director of IT, has asked the Council to award a contract to Orbis Solutions, Inc. for surveillance system hardware and installation at the Ottawa Street Parking Deck.

According to Sternal's memo to the Council, Joliet is preparing for the opening of the new City Square. To support the safety and security of this high-traffic area, installation of a comprehensive surveillance system is proposed for the adjacent Ottawa Street Parking Deck.

In August, Joliet Patch ran a crime story revealing that the downtown Joliet $20 million City Square construction project of Austin Tyler Construction was the site of a Joliet police arrest. The arrest logs show that around noon on August 27, Joliet officers were dispatched to the area of Chicago Street and Clinton Street for a report of an unwanted person refusing to leave a construction site.

In September, Joliet Patch reported that David Gregory, a 32-year-old Shorewood man who has been the focus of several Joliet Patch arrest stories in recent years, was arrested again by the Joliet police in connection with an incident that happened overnight at the city's downtown parking garage.

According to police spokesman Dwayne English, at 12:42 a.m. on a Tuesday, officers responded to the Ottawa Street Parking Deck for a disturbance. Gregory approached a woman while she was seated in a vehicle in the parking deck and threatened to kill her while making motions with his hands and body as if he was armed with a firearm, English pointed out.

According to Joliet's IT director at City Hall, the new video security "system will provide coverage across all stairwells and floors, ensuring visibility and deterrence in key areas including elevators, ceilings, and entry points."

"Orbis Solutions, Inc. proposed surveillance system will significantly enhance public safety and operational oversight in the Ottawa Street Parking Deck, aligning with the City’s broader goals for the new City Square," Sternal's memo advised the Council.

He also noted that "three competitive quotes were solicited for the project. After thorough evaluation, the lowest qualified quote was submitted by Orbis Solutions Inc., totaling $116,927.90 for equipment and labor. The proposed system includes high-resolution Axis cameras with night vision, network infrastructure, and installation materials, ensuring robust and scalable security coverage."