The Lowndes County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to comply with a court order from the district’s three chancery court judges to ban firearms from courthouse grounds when court is in session.
The board addressed the issue during its regular meeting Monday, also discussing additional proposals to prohibit “open carry” guns from the courthouse.
“What we realized is that we already have a policy that prohibits firearms from being brought into the courthouse, so we will continue to enforce that,” Board President Harry Sanders said.
The court order approved by the supervisors would make the courthouse a gun-free zone when court is in session.
Those with concealed carry permits would be allowed to bring guns into the courthouse on the days when court is not in session, Sander said.
The board also heard from representatives of AT&T, who recommended that the county purchase an updated phone system as it makes plans to relocate the E911 Center to its new location near the courthouse.
“What it comes down to is a choice between moving the existing system to the new location or going with a new system,” AT&T technician Robert Johnson said. “We think you would be much better served with the new system because what you have now is outdated. You would be looking at $30,000 to move the current system, and if you choose to do that, it takes about two weeks to make that move, which means you would have to find another agency to handle your 911 calls for that time.”
Johnson said the current XP software is no longer supported by Microsoft. AT&T said a new system would cost $195,000 and would include new hardware, software, installation, support and training. The new system would be also include a five-year guarantee, in the event new technology would require upgrades.
The board voted unanimously to consider the issue at its Nov. 13 meeting.
“I really think we should have the people that handle IT for the county and the city be involved in this,” District 5 Supervisor Leroy Brooks said.
Sanders said he would prefer to hire a consultant to evaluate all options. His proposal to instruct County Administrator Ralph Billingsley to secure a consultant to study those options passed unanimously.
The Board also accepted a donation of the framed flag commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War from Wilda Thomas on behalf of the Shuk-ho-ta Tom-a-ha chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
The board instructed Billingsley to find a suitable place to display the flag on courthouse grounds.
Billingsley also reminded board members that a Veterans Day ceremony to dedicate the new World War I monument will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. in front of the courthouse.
The monument is being moved to the courthouse from its previous location at the Magnolia Bowl.
Slim Smith is a columnist and feature writer for The Dispatch. His email address is [email protected].
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