St. Clair Township staff will be monitoring video footage over the next few months to report those who continue to vandalize Corunna Athletic Park (CAP).
An information report received during a recent council meeting highlighted ongoing concerns.
On October 1, the bathrooms at CAP were vandalized which prompted the township to close the facility two weeks ahead of schedule.
Director of Community Services Kendall Lindsay said the six cameras installed at CAP have not deterred vandals.
"We recognize kids on those cameras and they're trashing CAP but they're also in our arena at night, trashing our arena. We have to get after the 'frequent flyers' -- let's call them, that are constantly disrupting," he said. "I would say that the vandalism hasn't ceased with the cameras. There's footage of teenagers blatantly doing whatever doing they want to do mid-day. I'm surprised that our community lets it happen, just walking by with their dogs."
Lindsay said staff just recently started going through the footage, which has proven to be very time-consuming. He also noted extra footage collected at the arena.
He said Lambton OPP will be notified about "frequent flyers" when incidents occur.
"I personally don't care how young they are. If they're committing that, the OPP should be doing something, charging them or something," said Mayor Jeff Agar.
Councillor Brad Langstaff again suggested the possibility of hiring a local security company to conduct random patrols. However, Agar said that's why the township pays for OPP services.
"I will bring it up at the next OPP meeting out there but that's their job, that's why we pay them, is to at least show up," said Agar.
Deputy Mayor Steve Miller recommended council give the cameras "at least six months" before they start considering expensive options to deter mischief on public property.
*Clerk/Deputy CAO Jeff Baranek told Sarnia News Today on October 16 that the frequency and routine nature of some of the damage at CAP has forced the township to try to mitigate any future damage as "the repairs and time devoted to them is not sustainable."
Some of the incidents include damage or removal of paper towel, toilet paper, and soap dispensers; and gauging or breaking picnic table boards.
Baranek said after consulting with OPP, they have agreed to increase routine surveillance of the area and will have officers patrol the park on bikes.