Blackford County Approves Up to $24,366 for Courthouse Security Door Upgrade

From the Blackford County Council Budget Workshop #2 & Regular Meeting on August 5, 2026

The Blackford County Council voted 6-0 to approve up to $24,366 for courthouse security door upgrades after the security committee discovered that the current magnetic door seals on four courthouse doors are not to fire and safety code.

The four doors — on the south and north sides of the courthouse — are not connected to the security system, meaning no alerts are triggered when someone enters or exits without card access. During lockdowns, security officers currently must physically lock each door with a key, putting them near potential threats. The upgraded system would allow remote lockdown of all six courthouse doors from any location, including from inside a courtroom during proceedings.

The council authorized Megan, the county facilities manager, to purchase a 10-year license at $24,366 if the vendor agrees to align all existing security system licenses to the same term. If the vendor declines, she is authorized to purchase the 5-year option at $20,766.

The project will be funded from the security and tower fund, which must be spent by the end of the year. Megan confirmed that the fire department has reviewed the upgrade and confirmed it meets their requirements.

Source: YouTube transcript — Blackford County Council Budget Workshop #2 & Regular Meeting, August 5, 2026

Some information may be inaccurate due to video audio quality.