By Patricia A. Scheyer
NKyTribune reporter
It was a packed house at the Fort Mitchell city building this week as word had spread that decisions were being made about ebikes and Flock cameras.
A first reading of an ordinance was held that amended another ordinance on the use of ebikes. When Mayor Greg Pohlgeers studied the issue, he found out that the motorized bikes were designated into three classes, 1, 2 and 3. Those in classes one and two were created not to go over 20 MPH. Those in class three have the ability to go up to 28 MPH. Another vehicle, called an emoto, generally has no pedals, and these vehicles have the capacity to go up to 60 MPH.
Several residents got up to speak, many of them telling of incidents where they had almost gotten run over by children going too fast on an ebike.
“When I was walking up and down Dixie Highway, and I have had more kids came up from behind and were going very fast,” said Terry Honebrink. “They shouted ‘Get out of the way!’ But who pays for my medical bills if I get hurt? I worry about the kids but I worry about me too!”
She asked who would pay for her car if the car was damaged in an accident avoiding a child on a speeding bike. She also was afraid that if she hurried to get off the sidewalk would she accidentally step in an uneven spot and turn her ankle or break it.
Glenn Willman wondered if the city could license the vehicles, or register them. He said many times the bikes are black and the children wear black, making them harder to see. But he does know that if he hurt a child he doesn’t know how he would live with himself.
When everyone had spoken about ebikes who wanted to, Mayor Pohlgeers held the first reading of an ordinance which notes the definition of the vehicles, and bans the vehicles from the sidewalk if it has the capacity to go more than 20 mph. It also specifies that the vehicles in class 1 and 2 which are allowed to be on the sidewalk keep their speed to 15 mph. Some of the residents thought they should keep it to 10 mph.
The legislation also specifies that the children have to wear helmets and have to have a headlight on their bikes so that they can see and be seen when it is dark outside.
Most of the residents and council members who spoke said that a great majority of children on these bikes mind the rules and are respectful, but the smaller minority of kids who don’t care are always the ones for whom the rules have to be made.
Then the Flock conversation started and resident Greg Givens started by giving a host of statistics why the cameras are bad, and the incidents of the people who have abused the material gathered by the cameras.
There are five license plate readers in the city of Fort Mitchell. They are rented on a two-year contract with the company, and that contract will be up for renewal in February of next year. The cost is $34,000 over two years.
Tom McDonald said that he would like to know what data they have on him. He said he doesn’t know how many trips he made to Kroger last week, but those cameras probably do know.
“The contract be damned, unplug the things!” he said.
Mayor Pohlgeers said he definitely knows more about Flock cameras than he did know.
“When you pull the curtain back on the cameras it gets a little scary,” he said. “I did like Flock, but maybe the company grew too fast, I don’t know. They are doing a 30-day rolling purge but it is too late. They are being reactive rather than proactive. Doing a deep dive into their customer service I am very disappointed.”
He said when they first decided on installing the cameras, it was not brought before council, it was a budget issue, and he feels like it should be solely on his shoulders to decide if they should discontinue the use or keep them going. He said he will make the decision sooner than later, and he will discuss it with the Police Chief.
Mayor Pohlgeers ultimately decided that the city ‘will terminate the use of Flock cameras, effective immediately.’