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County Looks For Courthouse Security Update |
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Monday, 11 May 2009 |
By KAREN CAMPBELL
Staff Writer
WAPAKONETA — Even with plans on hold for renovations to the Auglaize County Courthouse, steps to make the building more secure are being discussed.
The Supreme Court recently approved new rules for Ohio courts to develop and implement security plans. The rules require that 16 standards are met through the plan.
While the county already had a courthouse security and emergency evacuation plan, it could use some updates and tweaking, Common Pleas Judge Mark Spees said.
A local committee is being formed to plan for changes necessary according to the rules and to prepare a security plan to submit for approval.
To be represented on the committee are a fiscal representative, first responder, member of the public and representatives of other entities within the facility.
Judges are to appoint members of the committee and approve plans when they are complete.
Municipal Judge Gary Herman said the continuity of operations plan is not an original concept and covers details such as what to do if computers can’t be used, what remote locations the court might move to and how to handle phone problems.
“A lot of this came out of 9-11,” Herman said.
The revised plan would work in other situations, too, such as flooding in Hancock and Paulding counties which wiped out many files.
“It gives us a good opportunity to look at it if we’re going to be remodeling anyway,” Spees said.
He said already the courts are working to get documents imaged and stored in computers off-site.
“We need to put into writing a plan for where to go and how to get there,” Spees said.
“We need to have a plan now to address problems as we look forward and plan for the renovation.”
Herman said what specifically is required and what is recommended by the state is a bit complicated, but they are working to abide by the requirement and provide the most safety for the building.
Plans developed are not to be accessible to the public.
He said one problem with the current plan is employees may not even know what to do at the different security levels, such as a hostage situation versus a fire or bomb threat.
“A lot of the work has already been done,” Common Pleas Judge Frederick Pepple said. “It won’t be like we are reinventing the wheel, but some questions need to be revisited and starting now gives us time to work out the glitches.”
He said 11 years ago the county made some decisions about how to handle security in the courthouse and it’s important now to look at those decisions with an open mind about where security needs to go now.
“The reality is that things change and it’s important to use common sense,” Pepple said. |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 19 May 2009 )
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