By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
Security is on everyone’s minds these days and residents of Decatur and the area are no exception. To that end, city council has authorized putting panic buttons back in working order in the building and zoning office, and installing 3M bullet proof film in other areas of City Hall.
Building/Zoning Supervisor Curt Witte told the city’s board of works and safety at its recent meeting that the panic alarms in his office haven’t worked for some time and he asked that they be redone.
Witte got quotes from VFP Fire Systems in Ohio and Innovative Concepts in Decatur on handling the work. VFP said if would put all-new hardware in place for $5,870.13, and monitor it for $719 a year.
Innovative said it would do the work for $3,466.74, using part of the equipment now in place. And it will monitor the system for $442.80 a year.
Witte recommended the local firm and the board agreed.
Meanwhile, Witte told the board that he, Assistant Superintendent Brad Roe, and city Fire Marshal Tony Lothridge recently attended a seminar on code enforcement which, he explained, was highly enlightening.
One recommendation was for code enforcement officers to wear bulletproof vests, which they already have, Witte said. Another recommended the use of the 3M bulletproof film.
After some discussion, the board gave its approval to the expenditure of $962 to have the film installed on the glass where the receptionists are situated in City Hall, and on the doors of the water department.
In its meeting later that night, city council finalized the expenditure by lending its approval.
