Sheriff seeks $74,450 courthouse-security grant; board agrees to apply with county match

The Pine County Sheriff’s Office asked the board to approve an application for a Safe and Secure Courthouse Initiative grant that would convert the pilot single-point entry into a more permanent security system across the courthouse.

Sheriff Rod described the pilot and the proposed project, saying it would fund enhanced radios, video surveillance, metal-detection equipment, security furniture, taser upgrades, ballistic vests, staff training and courtroom door-security improvements identified by the judges. He said the estimated total cost is $74,450 and the grant is a 50% match program. "We screen about a 180 people a day," he said, ‘‘and we remove on an average, it’s about 9 to 10 weapons off people.’’

The sheriff asked the board to adopt a resolution authorizing submittal of the grant and a local match of up to $35,002.25 plus $2,000 in-kind (training hours). Amy Wheeler, the court administrator, told the board she had letters of support from the judge, the county attorney and the public defender and other stakeholders who back the grant application.

Commissioners questioned staffing impacts and whether the county would be asked for additional money if the grant is unsuccessful. The sheriff said core staffing for the pilot is already budgeted for 2027 and that the grant would fund one-time equipment and facility upgrades; if the grant is denied, the county would not immediately seek the full local match and would continue with the pilot using existing resources.

The board voted to authorize applying for the grant and the county match if the award is made. Staff said the local match would be funded from the 2026 jail budget as a one-time commitment.

Next steps: staff will submit the application, record the county match in the jail budget contingent on award, and return with implementation details if the grant is received.