Those who attend either municipal court or City Council meetings will see a new security process for entering the council chambers at City Hall.
Starting this week, the city will use a metal detector at the entrance to the council chambers, as well as security staff to man the detector. The increased security measures were approved in September by the City Council during the annual budget process.
The city had already been working to acquire a metal detector through a trade with Cole County for parking. The council approved $21,000 in professional services for a private security firm to staff the metal detector on court dates and an additional $3,600 to staff it at City Council meetings. Also approved was adding $6,500 to the police overtime budget to allow for additional officers at show cause and pre-trial dockets in municipal court, both which happen once a month.