Bayfield Town Hall will soon upgrade its video security system to help expand its depth of view inside and outside the building.
“The overall system’s going to be phased in over several years,” said Bayfield police chief Michael Hoguet.
Compared to the current camera setup, which spans nearly 180 degrees, Hoguet said the new system will provide a 360-degree view of spots where the public has immediate access, such as the parking lots, lobby and town board chamber.
Hoguet also said some of the available cameras for use include those with infrared vision capability.
Hoguet said the current system is outdated and didn’t cover some of the needed areas effectively, adding that the new system would be built to better protect town hall personnel and the building itself.
Citing personnel security, Hoguet said he couldn’t comment on how many cameras will be set up, where they will be positioned, which spots in the building are not adequately covered, among other things.
Hoguet said he hopes to get the installation process underway as soon as Jan. 1 when the new budget season takes effect. He also said the timeline when that installation will be completed will depend on how quickly the process moves along working with the company, Stone Security.
“A lot of these things don’t happen overnight. It’s going to take a couple months to get everything up and running, then to get a couple of our administrators trained on the system as well,” he said.
As part of the 2025 capital improvements budget, just under $41,000 will pay for the new system.
Hoguet said the new system won’t be integrated into police dispatch because it already has its hands tied with other surveillance systems, but Bayfield Police Department will set up its own alert system in case something happens at Town Hall.
Once the video security system’s installed at Town Hall, Hoguet said it’ll expand to other locations like the parks, Pine River Senior Center and the public works department building. Those latter sites are slated to have the new system installed beginning in 2026 and 2027.
mhollinshead@durangoherald.com
