Supervisors hear briefing on Knox Box security for county buildings; staff to research access and standards

Supervisors briefed on the Knox Box system—secure, standardized containers that hold building keys and emergency information such as floor plans and utility shut-offs—for potential installation at county facilities.

A board member brought up a recent contact from a local fire/negotiator who recommended Knox Boxes for faster emergency access. Participants described varying box designs and price points: cheaper models are simple wall-mounted boxes while more expensive units (quoted around $600) include additional tamper or alarm features and bolted-in or recessed installations. "It27s loaded with information… floor plans… gas shutoffs… It gave the responding first responders the information they needed," a speaker said, describing how the systems support tactical and emergency responses.

Dispatch staff in attendance (identified as dispatch supervisor and dispatchers) described Knox Boxes used at other sites and said boxes can be secured so only on-duty responders access them; participants recommended evaluating the number of buildings to equip and whether keys or only plans would be stored in boxes. Concerns included the number of people with access, possible vandalism, and whether boxes should be present without keys to limit risk. The board asked staff to research access controls, which buildings to prioritize, installation costs and whether the county27s emergency responders already have universal access keys.

No formal action was taken; staff will report back with options including preferred models and recommended access policies.