Supervisors have agreed to hire A&D Security Solutions, a local firm based in Esperance, to handle security at the County Office Building at a cost of $200,000 a year.
A&D was one of three firms making the final cut and interviewed for the job in executive session Monday; a total of eight expressed interest, said Jefferson Supervisor Peggy Hait, who chairs the Employee Safety & Security Committee.
A&D already has two security businesses in Florida, Ms. Hait said, and one in New York State.
Like all of the firms interviewed, they’ll have to hire both full- and part-time employees to fill the slots, a process they expect to take 30 days with the targeted start date May 1.
Ms. Hait told the full Board of Supervisors that one of the things that impressed them most about A&D was the fact that the husband-and-wife team that runs it are also licensed security officers and can fill in if one of their employees is sick.
For $199,665, the county will be getting two guards and one supervisor with nine hours per shift.
Costs for the other seven security firms were in the same ballpark.
The contract being offered A&D is for one year with the option of two one-year extensions; if it doesn’t work out, either party can cancel with 30 days notice.
The Employee Safety & Security Committee has been looking at the best way to secure the County Office Building for more than a year.
Monday, Seward Supervisor Earlin Rosa asked whether security officers could have prevented a “visit” by a First Amendment auditor or reported threats to the Health Department, both of which, he said, “have gone viral.”
The First Amendment auditor reportedly wandered the County Office Building, filming, and by some accounts, intimidating or threatening employees.
The threat to the Health Department—earlier that day—he said, was from a caller who said ‘I will come in with my gun and you can’t stop me.’”
“I don’t want to hire a company that says ‘That’s not my job’” when it comes time to escort someone like that through the building, Mr. Rosa said.
Ms. Hait said before A&D begins, they’ll do a walk-through and a site assessment and come up with a strategy and a plan.
As far as guns, County Attorney Mike West said, under a law passed in 1994, they’re not allowed in the building or anywhere on the property.
“I personally believe everyone who comes in here should have a reason,” he said. “Nobody should have a reason to walk freely in the building.”
Legally, could a security officer have stopped the auditor? asked Mr. Rosa.
No, said Personnel Officer CJ Smith.
Mr. West disagreed.
“So some guy with a video camera can come in and look around? Do we have the right to stop him?” asked Schoharie Supervisor Alan Tavenner.
Yes, said Mr. West—that’s why they’re hiring trained security guards: to use common sense.
Only Fulton Supervisor Phil Skowfoe voted against hiring A&D, concerned the $200,000 “is just a start.”