Seemingly lost in several recent conversations about security at public facilities – specifically those of the Port Townsend School District and now Jefferson County – is what level of security the public wants at its public facilities.

With no public comment, the school district over the summer unanimously approved a $151,399 bid to install 49 cameras at Blue Heron School and 68 cameras at Port Townsend High School.

More recently, and with no public comment, Jefferson County commissioners decided to invest $270,000 for security equipment, paid for by real estate excise taxes, to upgrade security at the Jefferson County Courthouse. The annual cost for staff to operate the new equipment on the second floor of the courthouse, where the district and superior courts are, is estimated at $175,000.

The three new people who would be hired to ensure visitors go through the new X-ray machine and magnetometer would be employees of an outside security company, not county employees per se.

And in the meantime, Jefferson County Sheriff Dave Stanko has been sounding an alarm about a lack of deputies throughout the county to meet demand.

There’s no doubt that some improvements at the courthouse are necessary, even though there have been no major breaches at the courthouse in recent years. The building is old and needs attention, more than the repair of the clock tower.

For now, Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies approach people entering the courtrooms to ensure that cell phones are turned off, search purses for weapons and then stand guard, typically in the back.

But there’s more to the story here.

For those who may have missed the Aug. 30 story in The Leader about the county’s plan, it should be noted that there has been talk of a perimeter fence surrounding the entire courthouse. That’s not on the table right now, according to county officials, but then, the talk has not shown up on the county agenda.

A number of elected officials have voiced support for the new level of security. We hear them. We live in turbulent times, violent times to be honest. People’s passions can get out of hand.

What should be noted as well is that the historic courthouse is only one of at least four county-owned properties where public business is conducted.

Will the county also install an X-ray machine and magnetometer at Jefferson County Public Health or Jefferson County Department of Community Development or Jefferson Transit?

Will security become so tight at the courthouse that we’ll all be funneled through a single checkpoint just to go to renew a car tab?

There ought to be more discussion – with the public included – on these questions.

These buildings, after all, belong to the public, not the elected officials who are discussing them without the public at the table.

– Allison Arthur