Flock Safety cameras installed within entrances and exits of the City of Bandera are scheduled to be removed Sept. 1, according to city officials.
Although only one of five cameras was fully operational and installed, Bandera will not receive reimbursement for the $17,000 payment made to Flock Safety.
“The camera was put up and validated, which meant the contract/ agreement was a 'fully executed contract' and made it legally binding,” city administrator Toni Kunz said. “Once that occurred, we were obligated to make the payment. It didn't matter that the council was planning on breaking the contract.”
Kunz went on to say that the city was obligated to make the payment.
“We owed the money. The money was paid,” Kunz said. “The contract was ultimately broken before the year contract was up and that meant we were not qualified for the reimbursement. Somewhere in there the camera had been vandalized, and I don't think it was up very long after validation, but that did/does not matter in the big picture.” As previously reported by The Bulletin, emails between city officials and Flock representatives revealed that city staff were aware as early as January 2026 that the contract could be canceled by the city council.
Acknowledging what one city official described in emails as “quite the turnout” at a heated Feb. 18 town hall meeting, then-Interim City Administrator Jill Dickerson approved payment of the $17,000 invoice to Flock.
City Administrative Assistant Stephanie Biggs later received authorization from Mayor Denise Griffin to proceed with camera installations on March 26.
The invoice was paid using city funds. At the time, city officials were anticipating reimbursement through a Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority (MVCPA) grant, which would have covered approximately 80% of the project costs had the contract remained in place.
Citing significant public opposition, council members Debbie Breen, Deanna McCabe and Tammy Morrow voted to cancel the contract during a May 12 meeting. The motion passed in a 3-2 vote. Council members Jeff Flowers and Lynn Palmer opposed the cancellation, citing concerns about crime and public safety.
Recent statistics obtained from the Bandera Marshal’s Office and Federal Bureau of Investigation crime data showed no corresponding increase in violent crime within the city or county.
Palmer later expressed concern that canceling the agreement could affect the city’s future eligibility for grant funding.
“The cameras were canceled, and that grant was canceled,” Palmer said during a July council meeting. “So, that’s a mark against us. The city won’t ever be able to get a grant.”
McCabe disputed how the grant was initially presented to residents.
“People were told the grant would cover 100% of the cost,” McCabe said. “Whether that was a mistake or an outright lie, I don’t know.”
Meanwhile, Kendall County Commissioners Court joined Bandera County in ending its relationship with Flock Safety. Commissioners voted unanimously on Aug. 25 to terminate the county’s contract despite an appeal from Kendall County Sheriff Al Auxier to continue using the camera system.
Commissioner Jennifer McCall cited privacy and data security concerns as reasons for supporting the termination.
“Based on the review of the current contract, I do not believe it provides sufficient assurance that data collected through the system will be adequately protected from access by outside entities,” McCall said. “I continue to have concerns regarding who may obtain access to the information, what restrictions exist on the collection, sharing and retention of that data.”
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