Courthouse security of interest again

A recent incident of an unauthorized person in the Putnam County Courthouse has county officials expressing renewed interest in courthouse security.

The incident happened shortly after the close of business one day late in December when a courthouse employee working after hours was startled by a man coming into her office.

The man left the courthouse without incident, but it prompted an immediate change of procedure for courthouse security officers.

At the close of business each day, the officers on duty will do a more thorough check of the building from the fourth floor on down, including bathrooms, closets and any other rooms.

However, the incident has renewed security concerns among the two judges, commissioners and council.

Security was also a hot topic back in 2013, when officials settled on having security officers on duty in the courthouse.

Now they are concerned there may need to be more.

The council asked Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Phil Parker his thoughts on the issue, and Parker observed that more would need to be done, including limiting access to a single entrance and having a minimum of three security officers on duty at all times. Additionally, the single entrance would need some sort of detection device, manned by one of the officers.

Budgeting would be an issue for any such plan, as the officers would have to be new positions, not drawn from the sheriff's current roster of jail or road officers.

Any exact details on security can be discussed later, and would likely be done in executive session so that exact details were not publicly known.

In other business:

* Animal Care and Control Director Randy Patrick gave the commissioners an update on the animal shelter for the six months it was open in 2015.

The shelter took in 137 animals, not counting those immediately returned to owners.

Patrick and Parker estimated that in 2016, the shelter is likely to take in more than 300 animals and respond to 400-500 calls.

Parker praised the work of Patrick and Animal Control Officer Rodney Cline.

"You guys didn't miss on the need for (animal control) because these guys are humping every day," Parker said.

* The commissioners and council approved the payment of $4,071 from Coroner Dave Brown's budget as compensation to Joni Young of the Health Department.

Young handles a number of the administrative tasks for the coroner.

At one time, the $4,071 line item in the budget was to compensate the coroner's wife, who handled such tasks. However, the last two coroners have been single, and the administrative tasks were turned over to the health department.

Brown said he simply looked at the request as rectifying a situation and paying Young what she's due.

Both boards agreed, approving the additional payment to Young.

* The council approved the 2016 salary ordinance.