Allen County Attorney Wade Bowie wants to make his offices more secure.
He proposed to Allen County commissioners on Tuesday a heavy glass divider be installed to protect his support staff and that his office overall be less accessible to the public.
The office has panic buttons, but “they’re aren’t altogether effective,” Bowie said.
He noted some who come to the office “aren’t happy,” particularly after they or a family member haven’t had a good experience in the court system.
His diversion fund contains money, if supplemented by the county general fund, to make security improvements, Bowie said.
“You can’t put a price on security,” he added.
Bowie also asked commissioners to consider merit raises for his staff.
“There’s money in my budget,” he said.
Changes in laws have put all driving while under the influence and domestic battery cases to county courts, and increased the workload for Bowie and staff.
“We do our job, but I think it’s important” for those who have accepted a greater workload to be compensated, he said.
Commissioners plan to consider merit raises — 3.6 percent cost-of-living raises were given for this year — after the county settles on a health insurance plan for the year starting April 1, said Commissioner Rob Francis.
ANGIE MURPHY, 911 dispatch director, said an ambulance offered to the county by Savonburg — it was a gift to that city by the county years ago — was in good running condition, a concern commissioners had when the offer was mentioned last week.
“The only problem is the front brakes are about half gone and all the fluids need replaced,” said Lee Roberts, a dispatcher who checked the vehicle’s condition.
Commissioners gave their OK for B and E Repair, LaHarpe, to do the work.
Also, about $400 will be spent to refit the ambulance as a mobile communications vehicle, Murphy reported. It will be dispatched for disasters and as an off-site communications center if something were to shut down the dispatch center at 410 N. State St.
Roberts also said a Telecommunications Emergency Response Taskforce (TERT) was being formed here to respond to disasters elsewhere.
