Dubois County commissioners approve proceeding with recommended courthouse security equipment package

Emergency Management Director Tammy Humbert asked the Dubois County Commissioners on Nov. 4 to replace courthouse security screening equipment that she described as roughly 20 years old and increasingly unreliable. Humbert, accompanied by Assistant Director Narissa Zink and Sheriff Tom Kleinhelter, presented vendor quotes and recommended a package including Garrett metal detectors, Super Scanners and an AutoClear X‑ray scanner (Option 1). Humbert said the county was not awarded a SHSP grant to cover the purchase.

The board discussed the quotes and a motion was made to proceed with the recommended items except for the Astro Security items, which the board said would be reviewed in greater detail at a future meeting and would need County Council funding approval. The motion carried 2-0.

The vendors and quoted options presented included lower-cost walkthrough detectors and handheld scanners (Zorpro, Garrett) and several X‑ray scanner options from Smiths Detection and AutoClear. The transcript lists the combined total cost, including additional accessories and Astro Security items, as $66,180.02. Commissioners said they would seek County Council approval for the funding needed for the selected items before final purchase of items that require additional security-contractor work.

The commissioners did not record a mover or seconder in the transcript; the outcome recorded was a 2-0 vote in favor of proceeding with the recommended items except the Astro Security items. The board said the Astro Security package would be reviewed further before any County Council request regarding that portion of the work.