County will upgrade security

Talk about it

Improvements are planned this year in the security systems in both the Dakota County Law Enforcement and Juvenile Services centers at the Dakota County Government Center in Hastings. The total cost of the improvements this year is expected to be about $366,000. When the entire project is completed by 2013, the estimated cost is about $1.24 million.

Electronic security systems in the Juvenile Services and Law Enforcement centers are 10 years old and reaching the end of their lives. They are also becoming more difficult to repair and maintain.

According to property management director Tom Burrows, the goal of this project is to upgrade the most critical security systems in 2010, before they fail, with the balance of the upgrades occurring in 2012 and 2013.

Wold Architects, with Latta Technical Services, was awarded the security consulting contract Oct. 20, 2009. The company was to study the existing security systems, make recommendations for improvements, and to complete the design and specifications for all system improvements.

At Tuesday’s administration/finance/policy committee of the whole meeting, Wold Architect presented its final report. The report indicates the majority of the existing systems are sustainable for up to three more years with normal maintenance and repair. The time frame coincides with the current Capital Improvement Program project funding allocations for 2010, 2012 and 2013.

The following systems will be upgraded in 2010: Law Enforcement Center — camera, duress and video visitation systems; Juvenile Services Center — central control panel (the current system is 15 years old). Electronic security systems have an anticipated reliable life of 10 years with good maintenance and service programs.

In its report to the commissioners, Wold Architects indicated the outcome of the project is to improve system reliability and provide a high level of physical security within each facility and to obtain the greatest improvement value to Dakota County.

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