The Lincoln County Sheriff's Department has secured funding and Commission approval for a special lock and entryway at the courthouse for employees. Commissioners approved at their December 4 meeting, allocating $875 to install a card reader and outfit the courthouse door nearest the deeds office for the separate security entrance. According to Sheriff Todd Brackett, the county may even see half of that money funded by the state.

Brackett recently met with Maintenance Supervisor Jim Hopler to determine costs and how this task would be accomplished. Out of four separate security vendors, they found the least expensive option was also the simplest. 

The process involves running cable from an upper floor unit to the first floor entry and installing a card reader. Brackett said the county would be able to link into a server owned by the state at no cost to the county.

The county will be responsible for updating the cards for employees so that they will be able to “piggy-back” on the other system. Brackett said this saves the county from having to purchase its own server. 

Out of the four options, the sheriff and Hopler heard back from three vendors about cost: Cincinnati Time of Maine ($875), NorthEast Security ($2,939) and Main Security Surveillance ($3,694). The second two companies offer package options that included the cost of a server, Brackett said.

He said the separate entrance will have two back-up locks for security, in addition to a swipe lock: a manual key hole and a key code punch pad. The new system will enable county employees to enter and exit the building without having to wait in line or get ushered past a crowd during courthouse screening. Brackett said the county will also be able to monitor entering and exiting traffic with the cards.