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At the Jan. 22 Public Safety & Courts meeting, County Administrator John Males recommended they look at closing all but one entrance, which would be manned by an officer and a metal detector, perhaps on a part-time basis to start.

"We've looked at this long enough...With our society we need to protect the people who work here, and those who come in to do business here," said Males.

"We need to move forward," agreed Emergency Management Director Todd Hillman. "We can put in cameras and ID tags (but is that enough?)...Will that stop anything coming through the door? It's not a question of if something is going to happen, but when it is going to happen."

"This has been one of my things," said County Board Chairman John Merriman. "Just because we enter one door that is not going to address security. I've been here 15 years, it has always been a bug-a-boo."

Males said it could cost as much as $70,000 for metal detectors and the door alarms for the other doors. The cost of the equipment and officer training would have to come out of the contingency fund.

Hillman said they can't lockdown the building because of the safety issues in case of a fire.

However, they can develop a lock down policy for each office, where staff would lock the door and take shelter.

Currently two Sheriff Department officers alternate between sitting in on court hearings and roaming the halls. The administration has also ordered ID photos be taken of all employees. There are four open entrances to the courthouse.