Bladen County's budget for next fiscal year could include the first phase of a plan to beef up security in the Courthouse.

As requested by the County Commissioners at their previous meeting, Sheriff Steve Bunn brought a scaled down version of his plan to provide security in the courthouse and explained it to the group. Bunn called this Phase I of a two-phase program that could, if adopted, eventually lead to controlled access to the courthouse at some point in the future.

Bunn explained that if this phase were adopted, phase II could be adopted at some time in the future at the discretion of the commissioners. The second phase would provide a full "lock down" level of security at the courthouse.

At the previous meeting, Bunn had presented a hastily developed proposal in response to a request from the commissioners. The proposal would have essentially controlled all access into the Courthouse by requiring everyone except employees to use the same entrance and significantly improving the monitoring system at the courthouse.

Under the proposal, everyone except employees would be required to pass through a metal detector before being allowed into the facility. Bunn said the proposal would fully implement a previously developed plan the sheriff's department had devised following the events of September 9, 2001.

Bunn said that proposal would be in excess of $280,000, but would provide the highest level of security.

After a discussion at that meeting, the commissioners asked Bunn to develop a scaled down proposal for their consideration that would cost less to implement.

The scaled-down proposal that Bunn presented at Monday's meeting would accomplish what Bunn termed the first phase of courthouse security and could later be enhanced to meet the full "lock down" security requirements contained in his plan to control access to the courthouse.

The scaled-down proposal calls for the addition of two deputies to the Sheriff's Department to provide better security in the courtroom. The proposal also calls for upgrading the camera surveillance system in the Courthouse using a color system and additional cameras.

Bunn said the improved surveillance system would enable courtroom deputies to observe the monitor and see the cameras from the same location.

The cost of the two additional deputies to the county, including benefits, would be approximately $72,500. The additional capital for the camera system would be $41,300. Supplies for the deputies-hand held metal detectors, weapons, radios, computers, bullet proof vests, uniforms, and any other necessary personal equipment-would be approximately $11,000, Bunn said.

The commissioners took no action following Bunn's presentation, but elected to discuss it in upcoming budget workshops scheduled for Monday and Wednesday, June 27 and 29.

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