Chehalis council OKs AOC grant to buy lockers, send bailiff to security training

The Chehalis City Council on Sept. 8 approved Resolution 19-2025, accepting an interagency agreement between the Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) and the Chehalis Municipal Court that provides reimbursement for court security improvements and training.

Jackie, the court administrator, told council that AOC completed an on-site security assessment of the municipal court in January and recommended a formal check-in procedure and installation of lockers. Jackie said the grant would also pay to send the court bailiff to a court-security certification course covering courthouse security, prisoner handling, high-risk situations, sovereign-citizen incidents and bomb-threat and disaster response.

The agreement provides up to $5,200 in reimbursements for eligible expenses incurred between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026, Jackie said, and reimbursement is provided at a set rate of 80% of the cost incurred unless AOC approves an alternate arrangement. Jackie said weapon-storage lockers are explicitly listed as an eligible use; she also confirmed that lockers for backpacks were included in the proposal that AOC recommended.

Mayor Ketchum moved to approve Resolution 19-2025 on first and final reading and authorize the city manager to execute the agreement; the motion was seconded and passed on a voice vote.

Council members asked how the city would staff and place lockers. Jackie said the current court bailiff would manage the lockers on court days and that staff would coordinate placement with the city manager, the judge and facilities; possible locations discussed included the hallway inside the metal detector or near the display case. Jackie said she would coordinate ordering the lockers and arranging the bailiff’s training upon approval.

The text of the interagency agreement was read into the record later in the meeting as “Resolution number 19Dash2025, a resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into an interagency agreement between Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts, AOC 02/1972, and Chehalis Municipal Court.”

Council did not record a roll-call vote in the transcript; the motion passed by voice vote.

The grant acceptance directs the city manager to execute documents necessary to receive AOC reimbursement and to implement the limited security actions described in the application.

What’s next: staff will coordinate placement and purchase of lockers, schedule the bailiff’s training, and submit reimbursement requests to AOC for eligible expenses during the contract period.