Anoka County Courthouse Remodeling Project Aims to Enhance Security

Updated: 02/12/2015 3:17 PM Created: 02/12/2015 2:51 PM KSTP.com By: Jennie Olson

The Anoka County Board is moving forward with a remodeling project to enhance security at the Anoka County Courthouse.

The Anoka County Board voted on Jan. 27 to move forward with the four-phase remodeling project by issuing contracts to both architecture and construction management companies.

The project comes after an 18-month study to address security concerns in courtrooms that handle felony arraignments, hearings and trials. A group of judges, court staff, county commissioners and others presented their recommendations to the Anoka County Board back in July 2014.

I think it gives judges security, County Commissioner Matt Look said about the project. Theyve been raising concerns for quite a few years actually, and so weve finally come to the point where plans were acceptable to all parties and everyone is reasonably happy.

Look said there have been no security instances so far, but they are looking to be proactive.

There are times when especially in child custody hearings when people get emotional in the courtroom thankfully theres a bailiff there and there hasnt been any issue, but our court reporters are sometimes within close reach, and if there are issues where someone would want to retaliate against the system, thats obviously something we want to deal with as a county board, Look said.

Look says defendants being brought into the courtrooms from the Anoka County Jail often have close proximity to members of the public and court staff members. The remodeling project would create private corridors and an elevator to transport inmates so they arent in such a mainstream area.

At the Jan. 27 meeting, a contract of up to $468,500 was awarded to Wold Architects and Engineering in St. Paul for the architectural and engineering services. Another contract of up to $499,990 was awarded to ICS in Blaine for the construction management services. The board acted on the recommendation of the Finance and Capital Improvements Committee, and funding comes from the building asset preservation fund.

The county board is fully supportive of this project, Look said. There have been some concerns, and we really dont want to put people in harms way.

More:
Anoka County Courthouse Remodeling Project Aims to Enhance Security