Bullet-proof glass could be installed in county building

Clay County officials are looking into possibly installing bullet-proof glass at the collector’s office counter that separates customers from office employees.

The idea was discussed at the county’s Leadership Team meeting May 11, and Clay County Collector Sandra Reeves said installing the protective partition would keep taxpayers’ money more secure.

Reeves added the idea was an alternative to placing metal detectors or security guards at entrances at the County Administration Building on the Liberty Square.

“Most courthouses have metal detectors these days,” Reeves said. “This one doesn’t.”

Reeves said the plan was still in its infant stages — the plan was officially discussed for the first time at the meeting. She said she has made no funding request in her upcoming budget for the glass’ purchase and installation.

The question of cost needed to be answered before moving forward with the plan, Reeves said. Cost estimates could be expensive, given the curved nature of the office’s front counter.

Reeves said no opposition was voiced at the meeting. She said keeping the tax money her office collects safe — although the office vault is emptied every day — was one of her office’s most basic duties.

“This is something that definitely in the future should be considered. For the safety of staff and the security and safety of the money … I think it’s a smart move,” she said.

“I don’t think there was any negative reaction (at the meeting),” she said. “It’s just a matter of cost.”

Clay County officials have discussed upgrading security measures for its employees and the public in the past.

In 2007, on the heels of the shooting on the Virginia Tech University campus in Blacksburg, Va., the County Commission discussed adding bullet-proof glass partitions for all department counters and metal detectors for the building’s entrances. Neither was implemented.

At the time, Clay County Western Commissioner Larry Larson

said courthouses and government buildings tended to have high security standards. And that was a good thing, he said.

“When you do business there, you get a feeling of a safe environment,” Larson said on April 30, 2007.

Currently, Reeves’ office counter has a Plexiglas partition, which Reeves said is more or less a “sneeze guard” that was installed last year when the H1N1 outbreak occurred.