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Commissioners weigh removing courthouse entrance screening as state carry laws limit county regulation
Summary
Commissioners heard a legal overview of statutes limiting county regulation of concealed carry and debated whether to continue entrance security when the Justice Center opens; sheriff's office said presence and cameras remain but tracking every weapon would be difficult.
Commissioner Betty raised that the courthouse front‑entrance security checkpoint will be removed after the Justice Center opens and asked staff to survey employees and the public about how safe they would feel without the checkpoint.
Drew DeGrow, deputy state’s attorney, told the board the statutes the county must consider include an existing prohibition on firearms in UJS facilities (transcript cited as "22 14 24") while other statutes (cited in the meeting as "7 18 a 36" and a July 1 change "07:18 35") restrict counties from regulating concealed carry on county grounds and limit the county’s ability to regulate employees carrying firearms in many circumstances. "There are certain limited circumstances where we can regulate that, but that would limit the ability of the county to regulate any county employees from concealed carry on any county grounds," he said.
Commissioners questioned whether Lincoln County faces an "elevated threat level" to justify roughly $200,000 in annual security costs that Sheriff Swenson — cited by a commissioner — said would be the estimated expense to retain the entrance screening. Chad Brown of the sheriff’s office said deputies will remain in the building and equipment such as cameras will continue to be used, but acknowledged the new laws will constrain what the county can prohibit and that keeping track of every person who enters with a weapon would be difficult.
Public commenter Linda Montgomery of Fairview urged sensitivity to employees who have worked with a security checkpoint in place and said visible sheriff presence and cameras provide reassurance.
No formal action was taken; commissioners asked staff to gather employee and public input before making final decisions on security procedures after the Justice Center opens.
