By 1812Blockhouse
On Thursday, the Richland County Board of Commissioners approved the allocation of $38,578 for a new electronic security system at the courthouse’s front door. The decision to purchase the updated equipment from Point Security, based in Lexington, North Carolina, was made during a meeting that included discussions with JJ Bittinger, the county’s Director of Court Services and Chief Probation Officer, and Domestic Relations Court Judge Beth Owens, who is currently serving as the county’s presiding judge.
Aging Equipment Prompts Upgrade
The existing security system, including the x-ray machine and walk-through metal detectors, has been in place for 10 years and is nearing the end of its operational life. Bittinger noted that the current system’s maintenance costs have steadily increased over the years, with the annual service contract with Leidos Security Systems rising from $4,900 in 2019 to $6,600 in 2024. He emphasized the need for an upgrade to avoid potential security failures.
“Our current x-ray and metal detection equipment are 10 years old and nearing end of life,” Bittinger explained. “More than 100,000 visitors enter the courthouse annually through the screening area, making reliable security equipment essential.”
A Cost-Effective and Reliable Solution
The commissioners were presented with the option to purchase the new system from Point Security, the same vendor that supplied similar equipment for the Richland County Juvenile Court four years ago. Bittinger highlighted that the new system, including hand-held metal detectors, would be identical to the one used at the juvenile court, which has functioned reliably since its installation.
“(The new system) would match and mirror the one used at Juvenile Court,” Bittinger said. “It makes it easier for the officers that are working. There would not be different machines at different places because they bounce back and forth between the two buildings and everything would be the same.”
Judge Owens strongly endorsed the upgrade, citing the necessity of maintaining top-tier security for the courthouse. “I fully support this. Our current system is 10 years old,” Judge Owens stated. “I very much support upgraded security … the best security that we can afford. We don’t want our old equipment to break down and not to work.”
Financial Considerations and Implementation
The new system comes with a significant financial advantage: there would be no required annual service contract, unlike the current arrangement with Leidos Security Systems. Over time, the savings from eliminating the service contract could offset the initial cost of the new equipment.
“Over time, the system would pay for itself by just saving the money that we now pay for the current system service contract,” Owens said.
Bittinger informed the commissioners that the new equipment would be delivered and installed within four to six weeks and would come with a one-year warranty. He assured the board that Point Security could respond within 36 hours if any issues arose. Additionally, he mentioned that more local suppliers could be utilized for maintenance or replacements once the warranty expires.
After careful consideration, the commissioners agreed to fund the purchase by transferring the necessary amount from their contingency funds to the court security budget.
Image: DALL-E 3
