HUTCHINSON, Kan. – Once again the issue of building a secure entrance for the Reno County courthouse was discussed at the Reno County Commission meeting with two options. One includes using the space currently being used as the first floor bathroom and a neighboring storage closet. The other being pushed by Sheriff Randy Henderson would use a little different route and would encompass using what is currently a District Court clerks office on the first floor saying there is more room for their equipment there.
Commission Chair Dan Deming was in favor of using the bathroom, but the sheriff argued there is not enough room for the equipment, but also to be able to handle someone who decides to come in and start shooting. He says using the space currently occupied by the district court clerks, there would be more room and says you want to take care of any problem before they are able to get into the courthouse itself.
Deming admits that the proposal using the bathroom isn’t perfect, while Commissioner James Schlickau noted that if a person wants to get in and start shooting, they probably will. Sheriff Henderson says with his plan they might get past the first officer, but not the second who be farther back in the room. Commissioner Brad Dillon says he believes they need to listen to the sheriff because he knows about these things.
They still need input from the Historical Society and also Hutchinson Fire officials over the plans that were presented.
Law Enforcement Chaplin, Rev. Willard Stafford spoke briefly during the meeting and asked that commissioners not think of this in dollars and cents, but in human lives. He also addressed Commissioner Deming’s comment that it won’t be perfect. Rev. Stafford says why not make it as perfect as possible. He of course is the one that has to bring bad news to families in times of tragedy when their loved one is hurt or killed.
No cost were discussed during the meeting, but a decision on the direction there headed will have to be made next week, because the bids for the building of an all new entrance as well as renovation of the law enforcement center will be considered outdated after next week.