BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – After being discussed for more than a decade, Brown County is close to putting a $3.8 million addition on the north end of its courthouse for security screening.
“To think we don’t have a secure courthouse in this day and age, the county is taking steps to correct that,” said former Brown County Supervisor Keith Deneys during the county’s public safety committee meeting Tuesday evening.
Of the state’s 12 most populous counties, Brown County has been the only one without security screening at its courthouse.
“Every person that comes in that courthouse will go through one entrance where they will be screened with a metal detector and X-ray machine, similar to what you’d find similar to an airport,” said Brown County Sheriff Todd Delain.
Delain says it likely won’t be that extensive, but the screening will ensure no one enters with a weapon.
The addition will also become the only entrance for the nearby district attorney’s office building.
“It took a little bit longer because it is a historic site and had to get approval from the powers to be related to the appearance and everything else,” said Delain.
“It looks good,” said Deneys. “It functions like it’s supposed to. It’s built with years of planning in mind and with the prospect if there’s that need to go out farther.”
County officials say the project is coming in about $100,000 under budget.
Delain says the goal is to have the new entry open next June.
Currently, the southern doors are the only way to get into the courthouse, but people are able to exit any of the doors.
The public safety committee provided initial approval for the design of the project, with the full county board likely to approve it later this month.
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