(File photo/northeastNOW Staff)

By Cam Lee

Seeking security

City of Melfort urged by museum to help fund security system

Jul 17, 2024 | 2:49 PM

The Melfort and District Museum has lobbied the City of Melfort for funding for a security system.

Museum Board of Directors (MBOD) Chair Leiflynn Jeffery wrote a letter to the city late last month, reminding them that the museum had been the sight of some recent criminal activity.

“Local crime has been on the rise and given the museum does not have a security system to deter criminals, the likelihood of a future event is high,” the letter states.

Jeffery’s letter said the MBOD completed a risk analysis due to the high number of irreplaceable buildings and artifacts. The MBOD “concluded the installation of a security system is paramount to limit the possibility of future catastrophic event (sic).”

A quote from a Prince Albert alarm company estimated the cost of CCTV cameras, door contacts, smoke detectors, temperature sensors and equipment infrastructure to be approximately $15,000, plus a monthly monitoring fee of $54.95.

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Jeffery cited in the letter they believe the City of Melfort holds the insurance for the museum’s buildings and collections, and having a security system would be mutually beneficial.

“We also believe the installation of a security system will decrease the city’s insurance premiums, which also supports this undertaking being advantageous to both parties,” the release said. “Although, the damage the sustained to the museum’s artifacts and buildings was minimal during the last incident of vandalism, the MBOD sees the installation of a security system as a must.”

The letter said the museum’s success is due to the community, volunteers, and a committed staff and board, and that residents would support the city should they choose to work with the museum to purchase a security system.

City Manager Adam Homes said council referred the request to the Governance and Priorities Committee.

“Administration will do a bit more investigation, work with the (museum) board on what their ask is, and then we’ll bring that back to council,” Homes told northeastNOW.

Homes said there were a couple of vandalism and theft incidents in 2023 that the RCMP have investigated.

“There’s some concern (about the vandalism),” said Homes.

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Cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @northeastNOW_SK