BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Brown County is looking at a $1.9 million addition to its courthouse in hopes of making it safer.
Brown County Sheriff Todd Delain says the national standard for courthouses is to have one secure entrance, which is part of the county’s plans. A number of counties in our area already operate that way, including Outagamie and Winnebago.
Brown County has discussed a single-entry system a number of times over the years, but county leaders say this is the furthest they’ve gotten in the process.
Right now, Delain tells FOX 11 sheriff’s deputies have no way of knowing whether someone has a gun in the Brown County Courthouse.
“We do know that we had a person who used a firearm to commit suicide right now on the steps of the courthouse a few years ago and that is something we want to avoid.”
While it’s unclear whether a screening system would have prevented that incident, the county hopes to stop others with the addition, which would be to the courthouse’s north entrance.
“To get where the security desk would be, the metal detectors and a line for people to queue inside and not out in the rain or snow or whatever, it’s a pretty good size addition,” said Paul Fontecchio, Brown County’s public works director.
The county believes it will only need to add one position for the extra security at an annual cost of about $65,000. Delain says existing courthouse security would help with the new system.
“There are a lot of things that happen in the courthouse that are very emotional and can be emotionally charged. With that, there is a risk of something bad happening.”
Delain says the county’s circuit court judges are on board with the change.
The state’s historical society still needs to approve the plan.
Fontecchio tells FOX having the addition look the same as the existing building has raised the project’s price tag.
“The limestone of the courthouse isn’t so bad, but that red granite, that bottom layer of red granite, that’s going to be expensive to match that.”
The county’s administrative committee is being asked to see where this project could fit into the county’s five-year capital improvement plan.
If the full county board eventually gives the go-ahead, construction is expected to take 18 months.
