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GoogleThe Plymouth County Supervisors Tuesday decided to make the east door an exit-only to provide added security at the courthouse.
Plymouth County Sheriff Mike Van Otterloo recommended that change because of easy access to the courthouse and the supervisors' boardroom, which is just inside the east door.
"It's a fine line between being accessible to the public and security," Van Otterloo said.
Closing the east entrance will begin after adjustments are made to the door. Currently there's no way to lock it from the outside and have it unlocked inside.
The supervisors also discussed making the east door into an employee entrance by punching a code into a security panel or using metal keys.
They decided to revisit that matter in the future along with the possibility of eliminating all entrances into the courthouse except for the lower level north entrance for added security.
People would still be able to exit the building through any of the doors.
ECO Center
In other business, the supervisors finalized their $300,000 pledge in Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) money to help build the Education Conservation Opportunities (ECO) Center.
"I think allocating some Local Option Sales Tax toward it is a very good use of money," said Supervisor Craig Anderson. "I see the Local Option Sales Tax money often getting diluted, and sometimes going into projects it's real hard to look back 20 years from now and say this is what the Local Option Sales Tax money went to."
The $300,000 allocation is spread over two years and is contingent upon the conservation department receiving a $100,000 state Community Attractions and Tourism (CAT) grant.
If the grant is not approved, the supervisors will revisit their decision.
The conservation department needed an approved resolution from the supervisors stating their monetary support of the project before it could apply for the CAT grant.
The ECO Center, a proposed environmental meeting and learning center in Hillview Park, is estimated to cost $500,000.
Dennis Sohl, county conservation director, said the rest of the money to construct the center will be raised by the Plymouth County Conservation Foundation and through other sources.
"Our initial goal, and it's still a goal, is to not use any property tax money for construction," Sohl said.
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If I remember correctly, the East entrance is the only handicap accessible entrance to the building. This won't be able to remain closed off for very long if that is the case and will be subject to state and federal fines for the violation.
I don't have a statistic handy but I am willing to bet that accross the country, 99% of "violence in the courthouse" incidents occur because of decisions made or about to be made in Divorce and Child custody cases.
Fathers lose the minute they walk into the courtroom. Women know it and some men fight back the only way they know how.
People don't attack when they feel they have been treated fairly.
The system is unfair to men especially fathers...bottomline.
Violence is a result of suppression/oppression and released as instinct. It is often a case of maturity and training that prevents such actions. Mental disturbances and inbalances often contribute to these outbursts.
I wonder what the court house has in mind as a need for such action? is it because they plan something terrible to happen that may result in retalliation of the people? Has there been an incident to cause this reaction? is it just the false sense of security that limited access can provide? Let's be real here, if someone wants to cause harm, it isn't going to be stopped by keeping a door closed from the outside; and if it is, all the person would need to do is wait untilo someone exited through it and then it is open... This is not something very well thought out.
Come on Board! Think about what's going on!
"ADifferentView" is most to the point on this issue. Maybe there is an entrance of which we are not aware. I'd hate to have to pay extra taxes due to a discrimination lawsuit. Better check it out!
Refer to www.access-board.gov for more details, but here is a small excerpt from the massive ADA requirements.
"(3) Historic Preservation: Minimum Requirements:
(a) At least one accessible route complying with 4.3 from a site access point to an accessible entrance shall be provided. EXCEPTION: A ramp with a slope no greater than 1:6 for a run not to exceed 2 ft (610 mm) may be used as part of an accessible route to an entrance.
(b) At least one accessible entrance complying with 4.14 which is used by the public shall be provided. EXCEPTION: If it is determined that no entrance used by the public can comply with 4.14, then access at any entrance not used by the general public but open (unlocked) with directional signage at the primary entrance may be used. The accessible entrance shall alsohave a notification system. Where security is a problem, remote monitoring may be used."
If I'm not mistaken, I believe the north entrance under the steps is handicap accessible.
Why would our Public Servants need extra security?
Is it because we have become the Servant Public??