PELL CITY —St. Clair County Commission chairman Stan Batemon said discussion on courthouse security has begun and more discussion is needed before security measures are set in stone.After reading a prepared statement about courthouse security during the commission meeting Tuesday morning, Batemon talked further on the issue.
"At some point, I think we’ll get so busy we’ll need full-time security at court," Batemon said.
Debate has started about what type, where and when security is needed.
Batemon said the main focus now should be on court security.
"Court is where the main potential (for violence) is," he said. "Court is where the biggest threat is."
Batemon said the commission is moving forward with courthouse security on several fronts.
The commission is in the process of ordering a new metal detector, hiring an additional part-time security officer, adding more security cameras in and around courthouses, and moving the Pell City Courthouse security monitoring station from the jail to central dispatch, as well as making camera security monitoring in and around the courthouse accessible through the Internet.
Batemon said the commission should know what these security measures will cost the county by its next work session. He said he also expects commissioners to meet within the month with the Courthouse Security Committee to discuss security.
In other matters at Tuesday’s meeting, the commission:
• Approved a resolution stating any St. Clair County resident wishing to annex their property into a municipality may do so and the commission supports the right of every citizen in St. Clair County to do so.
• Opened bids for a new financial management system for the commission offices.
• Accepted a $4,427 Strategic National Stockpile grant.
• Approved a resolution proclaiming April 10-16 as National County Government Week.
• Approved an off-premise beer license for a store at 13895 Greensport Road, Ashville.
• Approved sending Emergency Management Agency director Ellen Haynes to the Alabama Chapter of the Association of Public Safety Communications Official in Perdido Beach April 10-13.
• Approved a resolution recognizing S. Blake Harabison as an Eagle Scout.
• Approved getting an appraisal for an old law office in Ashville as a possible place to store the county’s historical records.
• Approved giving the St. Clair County Economic Development Council access to the county’s computer network or E-Maps system.
• Approved financing three tractors, three mowers and three trucks through First Continental Leasing.
