WINTERSVILLE — Wintersville officials are consider purchasing surveillance cameras that can record the license plates of approaching vehicles.

Village Administrator Jesse Kosegi said the intention is not to record drivers who are speeding or committing other moving violations but to identify vehicles that have been stolen or involved in other investigations.

A retired police officer, Kosegi said an individual reported abducting a child or other person or a missing person with dementia could be found with the cameras’ help.

He said in the event a vehicle is without a license plate, its color and other distinguishing marks could be used to identify it.

Kosegi said such cameras are used in Steubenville and Bridgeport, among other communities, and help area law enforcement agencies to work together to apprehend criminals.

“The amount of time it saves on an investigation is unbelievable,” he said.

Kosegi said he is applying for a grant from TC Energy toward the cameras’ cost.

Applicants may apply for up to $20,000 through the grant program, which requires no local match.

Mayor Mike Petrella told Wintersville Council at its March 18 meeting he was getting quotes for the cameras but estimated it would cost $39,000 to purchase and maintain six of them during a two-year period.

He said the funds may come from fines paid in mayor’s court.

Councilman Randy Spence noted the cameras could help police track suspects for an armed robbery.

“It’s a pretty neat crimefighting tool,” he said.

Councilwoman Gael Damron asked where the cameras will be posted and was told that will be at the discretion of the village’s police department.

Such cameras have been challenged in courts on the grounds they constitute a warrant-less search Americans are protected against under the 4th Amendment to the Constitution.

Use of the cameras in Norfolk, Virginia was upheld in January by a federal judge who found they didn’t violate Constitutional rights because they didn’t provide continuous surveillance.

Some concerns also have been raised about the cameras violating a person’s right to privacy.

Kosegi said only a law enforcement officer will have access to the images captured by the camera, and they won’t be shared with anyone outside law enforcement.

Council also is slated to meet at 5 p.m. Sunday at the Municipal Building to consider approval of its budget for this year.

Kosegi said as drafted, the budget will total about $10,249,000, up from $6,999,000 last year.

He said while the village will see increases in health care costs, electricity and other utilities, the difference also reflects tax revenue from marijuana revenue that has begun rolling in.

With the approval of the sale of recreational marijuana by 57 percent of Ohio voters in 2023, a 10 percent tax on the sale of cannabis products was established.

Ballot language for the issue stated 36 percent of the tax will be returned to the communities where marijuana dispensaries operate with the remainder divided by the state among “social equity and jobs” programs, education and addiction treatment programs and costs for the state to regulate the new industry.

Wintersville has two of the state’s 176 marijuana dispensaries, including one formerly owned by Petrella.

The two opened solely as medical marijuana dispensaries, requiring prescriptions for their products, in 2018.

Petrella announced through the new tax, the village received $837,770 for the months of August through November 2025.

At his suggestion, council has agreed to apply the revenue and money received an oil and gas lease to a separate fund for future projects.

In September, council agreed to allow Ascent Resources to drill under 71 village-owned parcels amounting to 37.7 acres, for which the village will receive $170,625 and 19 percent of royalties from the lines’ production.

Petrella said there are plans to establish schedules for street paving and water line replacements in the years ahead.