Security upgrades being considered in Scott County

BENTON, Mo. -- County commissioners are looking to beef up Scott County's security.

"We're looking at our camera system in the jail," Jamie Burger, presiding county commissioner, said during the County Commission meeting Tuesday. "It's time for it to be updated so we just wanted to see ... the cost to include the whole county complex, possibly put [cameras] in all the county buildings."

There are five county buildings in Benton: the courthouse, Scott County Jail, the judicial building, the sheriff's office and the public administrator's office building.

Commissioners are inviting security system vendors -- and anyone else interested in the project -- to meet with them at 10 a.m. April 25.

"Anybody that wants to attend is more than welcome," Burger said.

At 10 years old, computer systems are antiquated, he said.

While the jail opened in January 2003, the jail's security system "may be a little older than that," Burger said. "It wasn't made the day they moved in."

"Anything is dated after you put it in, in the electronic world," agreed Dennis Ziegenhorn, county commissioner.

Given the recent violent events making national news, a security system that is current "is something we need to look into," Burger said.

Commissioners agreed there probably won't be much from the current system that would be worth continuing to use alongside new equipment.

Ziegenhorn said the used computer equipment often isn't wanted, even if given away.

"Even the first graders don't want it," he said.