Carper
CHARLESTON – Kanawha County court officials have received $26,000 in state grant funding to be used to improve security at the Judicial Annex in Charleston.
Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper said the grant is from the state Court Security Board and will be used to improve security at the rear entrance of the judicial building, which is where judges, magistrates, police and prisoners enter and leave the building.
Carper said the grant is far less than county officials had hoped for the project, which originally had an estimated cost of approximately $100,000. Carper said they have approximately 25 to 30 percent of what they need for the project, so they will have to re-evaluate security plans for the building and come up with a cheaper plan that will still work and they will still look into finding additional funding to add to the grant money.
Court officials have been worried about the security in the back of the annex for many years, as everyone can see who is coming and going from the building.