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Beaver County to alarm courthouse side doors, tighten fob access
Summary
County officials announced a new security policy: side doors at the courthouse will be disabled for routine entry, an alarm will notify the sheriff’s command center when those doors are used, and fob access will be limited to designated staff and officials starting in early April.
A county staff member announced that the courthouse will begin prohibiting routine use of side doors and that an alarm system will notify the sheriff’s department if those doors are opened for nonemergency reasons. The change will be communicated to employees by email.
Officials said the measure responds to safety concerns about unscreened access and door‑propping. "The use of the side doors for entry or exit into the building is gonna be strictly prohibited," a county staff member said. The sheriff’s command center can view cameras tied to the doors and will be alerted when an alarm is triggered, county officials said.
Solicitor comments at the meeting described the change as following a safety‑committee recommendation intended to limit unscreened entries. Officials clarified that the doors remain usable in emergencies and that certain fobs will still allow authorized access. The county described two categories of fob permissions: 24/7 access and after‑hours access; elected officials, department heads and some deputies are examples of roles that may retain full access.
Commissioner Mann said the new enforcement would begin in early April and noted practical concerns for employees who work nights or overtime. Officials said staff who frequently let people in should stop doing so and that department heads will reinforce the rule with their teams.
The county did not adopt any formal ordinance at the meeting; instead, officials said they will send a notice to courthouse employees explaining the new rules, and patrol staff will be notified to monitor alarm events. The meeting then moved on to other business.
