Commission to address security at Courthouse

Following recommendations from the Rural Courts Commission, which visited the county in November 2008, the Alleghany County Board of Commissioners agreed to address court security in the upcoming budget process.

The move could require the hiring of an additional deputy to help screen entrants to the Alleghany Courthouse on court dates, as well as other changes.

County Manager Don Adams noted that the county already has a metal detector that was given to the county on a grant. That device will be set up for the Feb. 9 Superior Court Session, he said.

All those who enter or exit the Courthouse will be required to do so through the front doors, which is where the metal detector will be located.

"Eventually what will happen is we will put an alarm on the side entrance and make it an employee-only entrance and exit," Adams said. "That will force all public entry and exit to take place through the front doors."

Due to the size of the metal detector, one of the stairwells leading to the second story courtroom will be closed during the court session.

For now, the metal detector will only be manned during court sessions, but Adams noted that it could be put in place as a full-time security measure in the future. "I strongly recommend that we start by just looking at court dates," said Adams. "The Sheriff is going to ask for one additional deputy for that."

Chairman Ken Richardson suggested putting the recommendations into the county's budget process. The county's Courthouse Security Committee met with Resident Superior Court Judge Ed Gregory and Superior Court Judge Richard Doughton Jan. 23. Doughton is a member of the N.C. Rural Courts Commission.

The commission also recommended that each office receive ‘panic buttons' that can be used in cases of emergency. Adams said he has received estimates for installing the buttons, one of which was about $7,500. He said he wanted to try to include the cost of the side door alarm with the button installation in an attempt to save money.

Adams noted that the Commission expects the county to move forward with the recommendations as expediently as possible.

Commissioner Steve Roten, who is on the security committee, noted, "Like we addressed before, we could be ordered to do this by the judge."

Adams pointed out that the judges have said they do not want to do that, but they are expecting the county to show progress on making the changes.

 

Get the whole story - read this week's edition of The Alleghany News!