Courthouse to Get Security Cameras

The DeKalb County Commission Monday night authorized the purchase of security cameras for the courthouse.
County Mayor Mike Foster says a system can be purchased for around five thousand dollars.”
It’s a sixteen camera/DVR camera kit, web ready. It’s got all the wires, security lock box, mounting bracket, 32 inch flat screen TV, wall mount for TV, power strips, connectors, conduit, and networking on-line viewing, which means you can be at home and if you know the code you can check in and see if anything is going on at the courthouse. The screen has sixteen squares and you can see wherever you want to look.”
” We just bid for eight cameras but as the need arises we can put more on. The cameras would be placed at each of the three exterior entrances, two would be installed in each of the courtrooms, and then there would be another one in the archives.”
” It (recording) will recycle every seven days. It will keep a record for seven days and erase it a week later. So if you had some kind of a problem (in the courthouse) you would know what happened up to a week.”
Foster said he would try to get some courtroom security money to help pay for the system.
Persons becoming sick or injured and needing an ambulance while actively doing volunteer work for the county would get a break on their bill under a measure adopted by the county commission Monday night.
County Mayor Foster raised the proposal which will ” waive ambulance service fees of anyone doing volunteer service for the county after their insurance has paid whatever it will pay. The rest of that fee will be waived for ambulance service. It will be for somebody who is volunteering their time, like a volunteer fireman, or whoever, but they would have to be actively engaged in volunteering for something at that time.”
Another ambulance service related issue was tabled until next month. County Mayor Foster says under this proposal, the county would pay approximately $4,000 for the training if an EMT wishes to go to paramedic school. “Then they (EMT) would sign a contract guaranteeing to work for DeKalb County for a period of three years. If they do not (work for three years), they would be responsible for paying back a pro rated amount to the county. If they were fired for cause, they would have to pay back the entire $4,000.”
Again, no action was taken.
The state is considering establishing statewide residential building codes
County Mayor Foster addressed the issue Monday night.”Governor has introduced legislation that would make Tennessee a leader in energy efficiency, residential building codes, and clean technology.”
“As a part of this proposal, the state would enact statewide residential building codes for the first time. These codes are proposed to reduce our high per capita energy consumption, reduce the state’s high rate of fire fatalities, and protect residents from shodding building construction.”
“County associations representatives have demanded that counties not bear any new costs related to this change. So far, the legislation as written, does not put any additional costs on the counties. Those counties that have building code programs may continue to enforce them if they choose, or if they do not have the codes, the state will enforce these codes much like they already do with the state’s Fire Marshal office for electrical inspections”
“We would rather the county enforce this (building codes) rather than the state come in here and do it. We would have some local person that would use some oversight and common sense when enforcing these regulations if you (county commission) chose to do that. We already have the books on file and we just need your (county commissioners) input as to what all you require a permit for if you decide to do that.”
No action was taken