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Johnson County formalizes 48-hour request policy for after-hours door access; custodial staff raise safety concerns
Summary
County facilities staff outlined a standard operating procedure requiring 48-hour notice for after-hours door access and described practical guidance for scheduling and locking; custodial staff said propping exterior doors creates safety risks and supervisors discussed responsibility for building sweeps and contacting dispatch for trespassers.
Johnson County facilities staff presented a standard operating procedure for programming door access for after‑hours meetings that asks meeting organizers to submit requests at least 48 hours in advance and to estimate meeting end times so staff can schedule locks and custodial support.
"The 48 hours really gives us the chance to communicate to custodians and people in the building that, hey. Your door is gonna be unlocked tonight," the presenter Dave said, explaining why short‑notice requests may not be accommodated.
Dave said staff typically unlock doors about 15 minutes before a meeting start and asked organizers to notify facilities if a regularly scheduled meeting will not occur; otherwise doors may still be opened for the scheduled time. He cautioned against relying on ad hoc manual unlocking: "we have had staff that show up at 04:30 in the morning to start their shift and find the door is still open," he said.
Custodial staff representative Vee told supervisors that propping exterior doors is a common informal practice meant to signal a meeting in progress, but it leaves late‑night custodians feeling unsafe. "Custodial staff feel really unsafe when that happens," she said, urging meeting organizers not to prop doors.
Supervisors and staff discussed additional operational details: the skywalk locks at 5:00 a.m.; organizers who request both buildings be unlocked assume responsibility for sweeping both buildings at the meeting’s end; and if someone is found inside who should not be there, officials advised stepping away and calling dispatch. "If you come across somebody in the building that shouldn't be here, I would step away from them and I'd call dispatch," Brad said.
Bill said facilities or payroll reporting can supply data if supervisors want regular reporting on building or staffing matters. Supervisors also suggested scheduling evening meetings in specific rooms (Betty Sass or 120 at Admin) to centralize entry points.
No formal vote occurred; the meeting recorded guidance and expectations for scheduling after‑hours access and assigned facilities to continue implementing the procedure and responding to short‑notice requests as staffing allows.
