Court upgrades — County seeks $106,000 for court security
Weston County will seek more than $106,000 in state court security funding for a courthouse generator, a new entrance door and security improvements at the Courthouse Annex.
The Weston County commissioners authorized Chairman Nathan Todd to sign the courthouse security grant application during their meeting, approving a request totaling approximately $106,661.71.
The largest item in the application is an $83,500 generator for the courthouse. The county is also seeking approximately $16,392.21 for an elevator entrance door at the courthouse and about $6,769.06 for an intercom and access-control project at the Courthouse Annex, where the Weston County Attorney’s Office is located.
The grant program is funded through money appropriated by the Wyoming Legislature for court security improvements. During the discussion, commissioners reviewed language stating that $3.284 million was appropriated from the state general fund to the Wyoming Supreme Court, accompanied by $364,980 in local matching funds.
The money can be used, upon recommendation of the Court Security Commission, for security equipment in courthouses or construction and modifications to facilities containing state courts.
County officials initially discussed whether the generator would qualify as a court security expense. They ultimately agreed to include it in the application while also exploring another grant opportunity that could potentially help pay for the equipment.
“I think there could be an argument that that is part of the courthouse security,” Todd said.
Officials said the proposed courthouse generator would be a 100-kilowatt unit.
The possibility of purchasing one larger generator to serve the courthouse, library and sheriff’s department was also discussed Commissioner Garrett Borton questioned whether individual generators were the most cost-effective approach.
It was noted that that option would be complicated because the buildings are separately metered. Connecting the buildings to a single generator could require significant electrical modifications.
A generator for the Weston County Library was not included in the court security application because officials did not believe the program would cover a building that does not house court functions.
Commissioners also discussed several other potential security improvements that did not make it into the final application.
One was a protective barrier at a courthouse counter, described as something similar to the barrier installed downstairs during the COVID-19 pandemic but constructed with bullet-resistant material. Officials said attempts had been made to obtain quotes, including contacting contractors used by other Wyoming courthouses, but no responses had been received.
Another concern is sound traveling outside the courtroom, particularly during cases involving minors.
Officials said the sound issue was not identified in the county’s previous court security assessment, making it unlikely to qualify under the current grant application. A quote is still being sought, however, and the issue could return to the commission for consideration.
The Courthouse Annex security project was included, even though District Court Clerk Riki Kaiser said it also was not part of the previous assessment. County officials had questioned why the annex was not evaluated because it houses the county attorney’s office.
The annex project involves an intercom and access-control system. Commissioners later discussed a change in vendors after the company originally expected to perform the work lost its license to operate in Wyoming.
The commission had previously authorized up to $9,000 for the work. A replacement proposal from Golden West came in at roughly $6,770, and commissioners approved moving forward with the company.
Kaiser said the court security program operates as a reimbursement grant, meaning the county could reimburse itself for qualifying work if the application is successful.
County officials said they expect to know by the end of September whether the application is approved.
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