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Wagoner County approves courthouse door‑access and bullet‑resistant glass upgrades, to be paid from courthouse maintenance fund
Summary
The board approved a one‑time installation of a modern access control system and bullet‑resistant glass for the courthouse public access/booking area. The project replaces aging prox readers and Windows 7–era systems and includes staff training and a card printer.
The Wagoner County Board of County Commissioners voted July 14 to replace aging door‑access equipment in the courthouse and to install bullet‑resistant glass in the booking/public access area, approving a combined one‑time cost of $38,079.92 to be paid from courthouse maintenance (M&O) funds.
Why it matters: County 911 and sheriff’s staff told commissioners the courthouse uses an outdated proximity card system that does not produce reliable event reports and runs on unsupported Windows 7 PCs. Staff said the current system allows cards to be duplicated relatively easily. The new system will centralize reporting, support stronger card cryptography, and allow expansion to other county facilities from a single server installation.
What the board approved: Mark Ketchum, Wagoner County 911, described the recommended package: installation of an access control system tied to an existing server, a card printer on site, upgraded readers and door controllers, and staff training so the county can manage cards and access internally. Ketchum said the county already procured the server hardware and that the installation is primarily a one‑time equipment and cabling effort. The board also approved installation of bullet‑resistant glass at the booking/public access counter and a related camera for the lobby area.
Technical and operational details: Ketchum told the board the system will use modern secure card technology that cannot be easily duplicated, and that staff will be trained to run the system (train‑the‑trainer model) so future installations can be performed in‑house. He said the existing prox system offers no usable reporting and relies on two separate, unsupported PCs; moving to the new platform will allow audit trails of who accessed each door and when.
Cost and funding: The board approved the low bid for the glass work and a technology package (vendor listed in the meeting summary as VIP Technology) for a combined total of $38,079.92 drawn from courthouse M&O funds. Commissioners discussed whether a one‑time cleanup or one‑time installation would suffice in some locations, and Ketchum said the selected approach balances immediate security needs with future expandability.
Vote: The motion to proceed with the low glass bid and the VIP technology access package passed on roll call. Commissioners recorded unanimous approval on the motion as presented.
Next steps: Installation and staff training will be scheduled; the server and initial hardware will be configured and county staff will be trained to issue and manage access cards. Ketchum said once the first installation is completed the county can add additional doors or other county facilities at lower incremental cost.
Ending: Commissioners expressed support for employee safety and cybersecurity improvements and authorized staff to proceed with the contracts and purchases as approved.
