Courthouse security discussion continues

Bourbon County Commissioners continued discussion about courthouse security Tuesday. It was agreed no decision will be made until commissioners can meet with all department heads. A meeting has been set for 1 p.m. Thursday, June 23.

Shane Walker, emergency manager assistant, Geographical Information Technology director, and information technology director, is a member of the regional homeland security board. The board consists of 33 members from a 10-county region. Walker said he was able to obtain information from eight counties or agencies.

"Every one of the counties is just like us," Walker said. "They don't have any money."

He said he spoke with sheriffs from several counties, who said people have been allowed to carry firearms into the county administration buildings for the past three and a half years "without incident."

The Personal and Family Protection Act went into effect July 1, 2013, which allows the public to carry concealed weapons into public buildings. Bourbon County Commissioners filed for and was granted a four-year exemption from the law beginning Jan. 1, 2014. As part of the requirement for the exemption, signs had to be posted stating weapons are prohibited from being carried into the Bourbon County Courthouse. In addition to the signs, public access to the building was restricted to the northeast entrance at the sheriff's office and the central doors of the east entrance. Employees were provided with key cards to give them access to the west entrance.

Beginning July 1, new legislation will allow public employees to carry firearms into public buildings.

Beginning July 1, 2017, the public will be allowed to carry firearms into the Bourbon County Courthouse.

Weapons, electronic devices, purses and other bags are currently not allowed inside courtrooms located on the third floor. A metal detector and bailiff are already part of the third-floor security measures.

On May 31, commissioners discussed the new legislation with several department heads. At that time, commissioners talked about the possibility of providing security at the main entrance of the courthouse.

At that time, Walker said estimates he has received show the cost of providing security for the entire building will be between $350,00 and $400,000, with the largest expense being personnel. While Commission Chair Barbara Albright said she understood security could be contracted with an outside company, Walker said the judges he has spoken to prefer that service be provided by county deputies.

On Tuesday, Walker provided commissioners with a synopsis of the research he has compiled from counties and agencies included in the regional Homeland Security board.

The Kansas Department of Emergency management and the Office of the Adjutant General reported the KDEM will allow employees to carry as of July 1 on the job and in all areas except those than federally controlled.

Those that will allow employees to carry concealed weapons are Allen, Neosho, Woodson and Chase counties. Labette and Cherokee counties never took an exemption from the Personal and Family Protection Act.