Roswell pays $237,500 a year for its Flock license-plate camera system, city staff disclosed at the Aug. 31 Open Forum meeting.

The contract runs through Dec. 10, 2028. Since 2023, the cameras have contributed to nearly 1,000 Roswell Police Department investigations, according to the city's recap of the forum. In 2026 alone, the department said the cameras aided nearly 500 investigations, including homicides, aggravated assaults, robberies, burglaries, kidnappings and missing-persons cases, according to an RPD FAQ page published Sept. 10.

Residents at the forum asked whether the City Council would schedule a dedicated public discussion and vote on continuing the program. The city's response: the Council has no current plans to do so. A separate question about imposing a moratorium on expanding the camera network drew the same answer.

RPD said it has maintained a policy governing camera use since 2014. Each search requires an investigative justification and a case number when applicable. The department said it conducts monthly audits with no instances of misuse identified.

The local debate comes as state Sen. John Albers, a Roswell Republican who chairs the Georgia Senate's public safety committee, said he is joining a new task force formed by the Georgia Association of Sheriffs and the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police to examine Flock camera oversight statewide. "Like every citizen in our state, we're concerned about the abuses that have taken place," Albers told WABE on Aug. 26. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has arrested and charged at least 14 people statewide in 2026 for misusing a state law restricting the cameras to official law enforcement purposes, the Georgia Recorder reported.

Grimes Bridge Road project on hold

The forum also addressed the Grimes Bridge Road transportation project, where residents have pushed for design changes including retaining walls instead of tree removal, added traffic calming and eliminating part of a multiuse trail on one side.

City staff said the project schedule will be evaluated and adjusted once potential scope changes are determined. Staff confirmed they are aware of the residents' proposals and plan to meet with them. The project must follow the city's standard approval process for right-of-way acquisition and permitting and cannot be fast-tracked.

No timeline was given.

Maple Street tree violation

On Maple Street, an applicant cut down seven mature trees without obtaining a city permit. The applicant provided a certified arborist's report stating the trees showed decay, hazardous conditions or invasive species and did not meet the city's specimen tree criteria.

The city issued a Notice of Violation. If the applicant does not remedy the situation by Sept. 17, a citation will follow.

The Open Forum is held on months with a fifth Monday. No date for the next session was announced.