New security doors at Capitol raise concerns for lawmakers

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Two top state lawmakers on Tuesday said they were concerned about the cost of a $16,000 electronic security door at the Capitol and plans to install another one.

An electronic door and accompanying security system were installed last week at the entrance to the Capitol from the Senate parking garage. Plans call for a similar door at the entrance to the House garage.

But House Budget Chairman Tim Green said that, at this point, he doesn't see the need for the costly security doors.

"Security always prevails, but there's the question of whether it's the right thing to do at the right time," said Green, D-St. Louis, noting the state's tight finances. "We need to look at it before we start spending money on this kind of stuff."

Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, said he was amazed that the Senate received no detailed consultation about the door.

"For us to simply be informed about that major of a change is astonishing," said Kinder, who first saw the door Tuesday. "I think this issue may have to be revisited."

Asked whether the money on the door was well spent, Kinder said: "It's hard for me to justify it and thank goodness I don't have to."

Mark Allen, the assistant director for the state Division of Facilities Management, said Tuesday that the cost of the doors would pale in comparison to the estimated $100,000 annual cost to have guards at the entrances.

Allen said he plans to give Green a chance to look at the Senate door to see how it works and how people are adapting.

"We're proposing that these doors be put in, but if they vote up or down, then the governor's office will have to decide how to pursue it. We're not going to force anything on anybody," Allen said.

Allen said the security improvements at the Capitol have been endorsed by Gov. Bob Holden. He also said he has received a handful of angry letters from Senate staff about the door.

"Our initiative was to save money and yet provide adequate security," Allen said.

The South-African made door is designed to allow only one person to pass through it at a time and is supposed to prevent someone with a door code from allowing unauthorized personnel into the Capitol.

When a pass code is entered, the steel door opens into a narrow glassed chamber. Once a person is inside the chamber, a sensor triggers the door to swing closed, allowing a person to enter the building but closing off the entry way.

Another code can also be entered that will allow the door to fully swing open, but that option will be reserved for people too large to fit in the glassed chamber.

A small open window also has been cut into the wall beside the Senate door so packages can be passed through.

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