 Alderman Joni Tibbs has been working with Bob Shattuck of J. Petty
Architects to come up with a plan. It would need to protect
employees of the building in the daytime and increase protection of
officials and the public during evening public meetings."Security
is not only locks and alarms," Shattuck first said. "We have to
recondition and train personnel so that they understand security
responsibility and their part in it also." There will need to be
doors shut and locked and increased awareness of surroundings and
the people coming in. "We can move in a lot of fancy equipment, but
still it's got to be the people, the personnel, that pays attention
to what's going on," he said.
Tibbs and a couple of the firemen joined Shattuck in a review of
the building and proposed changes earlier on Tuesday.
Shattuck observed that everything in City Hall is tight together,
unlike other public buildings, such as the Logan County Courthouse,
that have wide corridors and open spaces to add equipment.
The following is his list of security measures to implement:
-
Lock doors after
hours.
-
Add an officer or
guard to take names, check IDs, and administer visitor passes
for public meetings.
-
Motion-activated
camera surveillance inside and parking lot.
-
Install bulletproof
windows with steel information exchange trays at city clerk and
building and safety offices.
-
Add combination door
locks.
-
Separate switch lock
entry for aldermen and public to access council chambers.
-
Signage for public
awareness: Video surveillance; No firearms allowed.
-
Improve lighting in parking lots.
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Shattuck plans to work with George Alarms, who is acquainted with
the latest technology, to get their recommendations on alarm and
video equipment and get a range of costs to purchase or lease it.
This information will be used to make further decisions. Once
equipment has been decided on, the city will go out for bids.
Tibbs said that she hopes the changes will be done all at one
time. She's hoping to access a $25,000 grant that has been submitted
to cover costs.
If need be, various measures could be implemented in stages,
Shattuck and Tibbs said. A lease agreement rather than purchase of
surveillance and alarm equipment would hold some costs down.
Shattuck said that the big costs would be in the glass windows and
door hardware.
Off-duty officers providing two-hour duty for meetings would cost
about $3,000 a year.
In the event of an emergency, the fire department maintains a
Knox-Box. It contains keys to all our public buildings.
For his next presentation, Shattuck will meet with Police Chief
Erlenbush and Deputy Police Chief Mike Geriets to gain their input
and will make a recommendation that includes stages and costs.
[By JAN YOUNGQUIST]
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