Some Relief for the Understandably Paranoid Folks in Ludington

[XLFD]

Over the last week I have been trying my darndest to figure out what those devices on the ceiling at the new Stearn's Park restrooms were.  The lenses made it look like cameras, but the City has said that they were "humidity detectors" and later in the week, they told the public they had other purposes like turning fans and lights on and off.  There was no writing on the outside of the detector, and it seemed to light up when you moved in your stalls where you could see the lenses pointed your way.  It appeared like a very creepy device for surveillance, given that other hidden and out of the way cameras were found in other public bathrooms elsewhere, some pointed suspiciously and obviously at urinals and toilets. 

I have found out with my own research today, that the device is a Low Voltage Occupancy Sensor made by Cooper Industry (Controls).  It is an Ultrasonic motion sensing lighting control, used for energy savings and convenience. The sensor produces a low intensity, inaudible sound to detect occupancy in a room. Changes in the sensor’s acoustic wave caused by motion, such as walking in the room, or opening a stall door will cause the lights to turn ON. The sensor does not respond to audible sound. 

The ultrasonic sensor uses the Doppler principle. It produces a low intensity, inaudible sound and detects changes in sound waves caused by motion. They are volumetric in nature and therefore not line-of-sight dependent. Since they fill the space with these sound waves, they are excellent in bathrooms with stalls, enclosed hallways, or other oddly shaped rooms. In addition, they are much more sensitive to smaller motions. The sensor includes self-adaptive technology that continuously self-adjusts sensitivity and Time Delay in real-time, maximizing the potential energy savings that are available in the particular application. Here's an internet link, in case you're interested in reading more about its cost, and here is a manual explaining installation and specs.

 

They do not detect humidity, nor do they seem to regulate the fan units contrary to the City of Ludington's assertions this week.  However, unless they are seriously modified, they cannot be used as surveillance cameras, contrary to what I had presumed they might be able to do (based on the obviously intrusive and hidden cameras in other Ludington restrooms).  This is a good result for everyone, as there appears to have been no invasion of privacy at the new restrooms.

 

For some reason, the architect's plans were not followed by the contractor who worked on the bathrooms, the electrical specs of this OAC-U-1000 model was included in the electrical plans (the two items at the bottom of this snippet:

 

 

They even had an electrical diagram explaining the controls in the architect plans:

 

 

But the contractors for some odd reason went and installed these light controls quite a distance from where they should have been according to the drawings (the red lines show this translation about a dozen feet north) :

 

 

Was the City helpful in getting this information out there so that the skeptical people who see cameras trained on urinals and toilets elsewhere could relieve themselves in peace down at Stearn's Park this weekend?  Not really, City Manager John Shay (and all others who remained silent or unknowing on the topic) had us accept the word of someone who has willfully lied on court affidavits claiming they were "humidity detectors for ventilation systems", which they obviously aren't. 

 

And when I sent out on Monday night a FOIA request to the Ludington FOIA Coordinator, who happens to be John Shay (they are related), asking for:  "Work orders and associated invoices of 2013 dealing with the purchase, installation and maintenance of the two "smoke detectors" positioned inside the Stearn's Park northern concession restrooms pictured in the attachment."  I did not get a request until today saying: 

 

"Before I send the City’s formal response to your FOIA request, please note that the invoices for this project are actually applications for payment to the contractor. The applications for payment list different categories, such as concrete, masonry, doors, windows, drywall, flooring, painting, toilet accessories, plumbing, electrical, etc. They do not itemize what you refer to as “smoke detectors.” In an effort to reduce the cost of responding to your FOIA request, please let me know if the City’s response to your FOIA request should include reference to these applications for payment..."

Since I did find out that they are lighting controls incapable of filming which match the OAC-U-1000 unit in form and likely function, I cancelled the request this afternoon, to save him from trying to charge me big $$$ for information that would likely not have helped his cause, or the ultimate objectives of truth and transparency.

[Willy]

Good points todd. The fact that Ludington has "hidden" cameras and refused to inform the public does show a lack of respect for the public. Of course this is nothing new but it sure shines a light on what is going on. A big thanks to X for bringing this to our attention and a big Holeman to the City for being what we expect from them, sleezy.

[XLFD]

The hidden camera in the men's room at the Waterfront Park is looking into the toilet stall as is the in-the-open camera, which is also centered at the urinal, where it can "profile your unit".  The 2004 law stated is fairly clear, and 'reasonable expectation of privacy' is established in case law to include changing rooms, locker rooms, and bathrooms. 

The City of Ludington has posted signs, but has not did anything with the cameras that are pointed at common areas and other areas in the bathroom.   As s. todd says, it is not unreasonable to believe that if they have okayed this surveillance for 15 years, that they can justify surveillance using more sophisticated technology nowadays.  I urge every citizen and visitor of Ludington to be vigilant when they use our public facilities, and bring it to light, here and everywhere, if you find something.  A big 'your welcome' back at Willy and everyone who cares about morality and ethics in our local government, and is fed up with the lack of it in many of its current constituents.