County Board encourage courthouse security scanning

During their Nov. 3 meeting, members of the Waseca County Board directed county department heads to investigate the staffing and procedures that will be needed to begin consistent security screening of people entering the county courthouse starting the first week of 2027.

 

Grant funds awarded to the county more than a year ago allowed for the purchase of screening equipment, including a walk-through scanning portal and a unit to screen bags and backpacks. The equipment has been set up inside the entry nearest the veterans memorial a number of times in recent weeks with all other public entries closed.

 

County Attorney Rachel Cornelius pointed out that, of the eleven courthouses in Minnesota’s third judicial district, Waseca’s is the only one without security screening. Facilities Management Director Brian Tomford pointed out that any violent threat to court proceedings would also be a threat to county employees working in the courthouse, and that the employees deserve protection. 

 

Sheriff’s deputies who have staffed the screening equipment told of people approaching the courthouse entrance, seeing the scanners, and returning to their vehicles where they “unloaded their pockets” before coming back to the door. “What was in those pockets that they didn’t want us to find?” asked a deputy.

 

Also part of the conversation was the demeanor deputies at the scanners should show as people entered the courthouse. “They will be the first face people will see as they come in,” pointed out commissioner De Malterer. “They need to be friendly, approachable, and willing to answer people’s questions.”

 

It was acknowledged during the conversation that any routine established for the scanning will need to be changed when the planned Justice Center, with an anticipated move-in date of summer, 2028, is operational.

 

Land and Water Resources director Chris Howard received board approval for the county “Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Prevention Plan,” a 17-page document that summarizes what invasive species have been identified in the county and what steps are taken to reduce their impact and prevent them from spreading.

 

The report states that Eurasian Water Milfoil has been found in Clear and Reeds Lakes. Curly leaf pondweed has been identified in Clear, Loon, Sibert, and St. Olaf Lakes. Numerous prevention, awareness, and removal strategies regarding AIS are listed in the report: These include posting inspectors at lake accesses and using the Blair Nelson Paddle Ship weed harvester to remove curly leaf pondweed in Clear Lake.

 

Filing an AIS prevention plan is required for the county to qualify for state AIS prevention funding. The county will be receiving just over $23,000 in 2027; because of cuts in state funding, the amount is about half what the county received in 2026.