Commissioner warns Whitley County buildings need security upgrades; 34-page assessment prepared

During the commission report, Commissioner Rob raised concerns about aging security infrastructure at county facilities, saying cameras, panic buttons and related equipment in the courthouse and museum are “extremely outdated” and will need replacement.

Rob said Adam Johnson, the county’s director of security, prepared a detailed 34-page document describing current equipment shortcomings and options for upgrades and asked commissioners to review it. Rob said replacing the systems ‘‘is not gonna be cheap, but…it's gotta be done,’’ stressing the need to prioritize safety in county buildings.

The discussion did not include a proposed funding source or schedule; Rob said he had emailed information to commissioners and asked them to read the material. The council did not take a formal vote on equipment replacement during the meeting. The chair acknowledged receipt of Rob’s message and said more detailed review would be necessary before budgeting decisions.

Next steps: commissioners were asked to review the security assessment and expect future agenda time for funding or project proposals if the board moves to replace systems.