Some Bradley leaders want to tackle security at the courthouse, but aren’t sure where to find money for the work.
Sheriff-elect Jim Ruth says he wants to start using the magnetometer – a conveyor-belt machine used at security checkpoints – on the second floor where the courtrooms and clerks offices are located when he takes office Sept. 1.
To make the detector more effective, he wants the second-floor doors on the Ocoee Street side of the building to be secured and used only for exits.
Local judges for years have complained about security shortcomings and urged quick action.
County commissioners have talked about installing push bars so doors can only be operated from the inside. But that wouldn’t mean someone on the inside couldn’t push open a door for an intruder, some said.
County Mayor D. Gary Davis has said the entire door structures would have to be replaced for push bars to work.
On Wednesday, the Finance Committee discussed how much the project will cost and where to find the money in an already-reduced budget.
There may be enough money in the commission’s budget to pay for the door replacement. But there’s another problem.
A chunk of concrete recently fell from a column and the county plans to test the steel rebar for water damage. Committee members and Davis believe there won’t be enough money in the budget for both.
“We have to decide what are the priorities,” said Commissioner Connie Wilson. “The doors are a safety issue; we have to take care of that. If the column is a structural thing, we will have to do that.”
The door problem may be overrated, said Commissioner Mel Griffith.
“I don’t know that this is an emergency and it can’t wait for another year,” Griffith said. “I know a nut can show up any day and shoot the place up. But if he does, he’s going to shoot the guy at the magnetometer and walk on in.”
“I don’t know why they couldn’t just install an alarm system for exit only,” said Committee Chairman Ed Elkins.
The committee asked Davis to get estimates for the door options.
Depending on the results, the committee also suggested which budget line items could be used to come up with the money.