The Marietta City Council is considering spending about $50,000 to improve security at City Hall.
The city’s Public Safety Committee, made up of City Council members Reggie Copeland, Cheryl Richardson and Johnny Walker, reviewed three security proposals Tuesday. Presented by Marietta police Major Tanya Twaddell, the three options ranged from installing security keypads, hiring additional officers and civilians and installing metal detectors for everyone, including city employees, to pass through.
The Council settled on the first — and cheapest — option, which would cost $52,000. That system would be set up much like the Marietta Police Department where a visitor would have to be escorted from the lobby to their destination. Cameras and keypads would be installed on the first, second, third and fourth floors. The city would also have to install new doors, and install the necessary electrical work needed for openers and buzzers.
Keypad users would have to enter a code to gain access to a particular floor or department. The proposal will come up for a vote at the City Council’s Aug. 14 meeting.
The second option, a security checkpoint for visitors only, would have cost up to $430,000. The third option, which called for a security checkpoint for everyone working at or visiting Marietta City Hall, would have cost even more, up to $580,000.
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City Manager Bill Bruton said staff members received feedback from employees who like the existing set up, which has two part-time officers in the lobby during business hours. The chosen option would keep officers on duty at City Hall.
City staff members began discussing enhanced security measures after a man tried to enter Municipal Court last year with a firearm, said Mayor Steve Tumlin. According to police, Phillip James Collins tried to enter the building about 12:40 p.m. May 24, 2018, with a backpack that he did not want to be scanned or inspected. Collins was denied access and later found inside the lobby restroom where he was seen holding a gun and talking to himself about shooting people. Collins was charge with making terroristic threats and in March pleaded guilty.
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Tumlin said City Hall will remain accessible to residents or stakeholders who need to do business with Marietta.
“We’re not locking anybody out,” the mayor said. “It will still be very open, but with a little but more (security) out of an abundance of caution.”
Councilwoman Michelle Cooper Kelly said the first option allows the city to beef up security measures at a later date if they determine there is a need.
Copeland said he believes that the city is being proactive in choosing to move forward with the $52,000 package, but it would not prevent a person from bringing a weapon into the City Hall lobby and possibly shooting through glass windows.
“That would be a great concern,” he added.
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