County to limit public entrances to administration building starting March 1 to tighten security

Johnson County staff proposed restricting public entrances to the Administration Building beginning March 1 as part of a safety plan the sheriff and the county’s safety committee recommended.

Under the plan presented to the Board of Supervisors, only three exterior doors — the main public entrance, the flagpole entrance and the JCS entrance on the east side of the building — would remain unlocked during business hours. Stairwell entrances and the rear administration entrance would be made keycard‑access only, staff said. The change follows a security audit that flagged multiple public entrances as a vulnerability.

Supervisors and staff raised accessibility concerns: one supervisor noted the bus stop adjacent to the building and asked how older adults, people with mobility limits, parents with strollers or anyone arriving during inclement weather would access the building. Staff proposed mitigation options including a remote door opener, an adjusted outer platform, or adding card readers; they said those options would require capital work and cost estimates. Mail delivery logistics were also discussed; staff said they would work with the post office and, if necessary, route departmental mail to the auditor’s mailroom until a permanent solution is in place.

Sheriff Dave Wilson and members of the safety committee were cited as the originators of the recommendation to limit entrances. Staff said the plan aims to balance public access and safety and that they will return with estimates for hardware or remodeling costs where needed. The board did not adopt a formal rule at the meeting but directed staff to proceed with signage and stakeholder outreach prior to the March 1 change.