Courthouse security is slated for major improvements after theLincoln County Board of Supervisors approved a list of equipmentpurchases Monday.

More than 22 security cameras for monitoring courthouseactivity, as well as other security devices, will be funded throughannual federal Department of Homeland Security grants. The grantshave been passed down yearly since 2003 with the size of the grantsbased on population size, said Clifford Galey, county homelandsecurity director.

This year, Galey said, the county grant of $90,785, the citygrant of $29,285 and the Sheriff’s Department grant of $49,742 willbe combined to increase security at the courthouse.

“The county is using it to enhance the security andcommunications of the county,” he said.

Some security measures are also planned for Justice Court, butthose details are not being disclosed at this time. Some securitymeasures are more effective if they are not publicly known, Galeysaid.

The video cameras will be located in key, busy areas of thecourthouse, but not all the locations have been determined, Galeysaid.

“The entrances are obvious locations for cameras. You won’t beable to go in or leave the courthouse without being filmed,” hesaid.

District One Supervisor the Rev. Jerry Wilson said he would liketo see a camera placed in the boardroom.

Whether the county would hire a person to monitor the cameraswas not discussed.

“We can buy equipment through Homeland Security, but we can’tpay anyone,” Galey said.

He said that would also apply to hiring someone to operate ametal detector. Supervisors discussed moving the detector from thecourtroom doors to the main entrance to expand the number of peopleit screens.

“I think it’s working for the purpose we have it up there for,but I also think we need to look at protecting all employees of thecounty and those of the city who have offices on the first floor,”Chancery Clerk Tillmon Bishop said.

Supervisors admitted they would like to do so but expressed someconcern over the delays to entering the courthouse such a movemight create.

Galey said this year’s action might be the last opportunity forthe county to use 100 percent federal money to improve courthousesecurity because the federal government is changing the wayHomeland Security grants are distributed for 2006. Exactly howthose funds would be distributed has not been determined yet.

“I feel like we’ll still get some funding but not at the levelwe’ve been getting,” he said.

The list of equipment purchases approved by the county Mondaymust receive final approval by the federal Department of HomelandSecurity before the money can be released.

Galey said he did not foresee any problems with the equipment onthe list.