Court seeks $116K for updated security and phone systems

Elyria Municipal Court has requested upgrades to technology used in its offices.

During a Feb. 24 City Council Finance Committee meeting, Municipal Court officials sought an upgraded phone and new security camera systems for the building, said Clerk Eric Rothgery.

“Our phone system is an old phone system and needs to be updated,” Rothgery said. “The main thing is for us to be on the city’s system to tag along on that.”

The phone systems will cost around $28,000 and will save the court around $800 to $1,000 a month, he said.

“When I say we [in reference to save money], I mean a general fund expenditure that comes from the city,”

Rothgery said.

The court also expressed the need for an updated security system.

Currently, the security system doesn’t allow for storage and has blind spots, said Municipal Judge Gary Bennett.

In addition, courtrooms do not have security cameras, Bennett said.

“Last spring, the security manager for the Ohio Supreme Court came and did an assessment of the building,” the judge said. “He found the cameras within the facility provided inadequate coverage due to the design limitations and position of placement.”

Bennett also said the video recording system in courtrooms are outdated and improvements would benefit the security.

The representative from Ohio Supreme Court recommended the addition of an updated full circuit TV system with professionally placed cameras which would enhance the level of security in court, the judge said.

The last time the security cameras were replaced was in 2007.

If replaced, the cameras will cover the parking lot, courtrooms and all general areas and previous dead spots.

Finance Director Ted

Pileski said money for the updates will come from the Issue 6 fund to pay the $28,000 phone updates and the $88,000 security camera updates.

“There is extra money that has come in that hasn’t been marked for anything yet, so there are monies available to spend on this,” Pileski said.