2/21/1995 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

moK 94 F�AGE4 7 GARDEN CLUB'S FLOWER SHOW AT THE COURTHOUSE Commissioner Eggert reviewed the February 17, 1995 letter from the Garden Club of Indian River County as follows: GARDEN CLUB OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY 2526 17 AVENUE VIRO BEACH FL 32960 FEBRUARY 17, 1995 Commissioner Carolyn Eggert 1840 25 Street Vero Beach, FI 32960 Dear Carolyn: As you -know the County Commission granted permission to the Garden Club of Indian River County in the spring of 1994 to hold a flower show in the new County Courthouse. Plans have been under way since then to have the show on April 8 and 9, 1995. We have worked with Jeff Barton and other courthouse personnel to coordinate all plans. I have also had several conversations with Chairman Ken Macht who enthusiastically supported our plans. There have been questions concerning security during lire weekend of the show which we felt had been progressing well. It was our understanding that we would be able to set aside the conveyor belt and table at the entrance, but would have to leave the metal detector in place because it had very sensitive calibrations which might be disturbed if it were moved.. We felt we could work around the metal detector. Other security plans were still under discussion. On February 15, Lt. Batiste of the Indian River Sheriffs Department called me and said we would have to have written authorization from the County Commission to bypass the security at the entrance and would also be required to have one of.his staff members on duty when our members were in the building during hours when it is not normally open to the public and an additional officer when the show would be open to the public. At the rate of $23.00 per hour that would cost us $805.00 for security. If the metal detector also has to be in operation, we would have to pay for additional personnel to staff it. If, in fact, the Commission wants to encourage the public to use their new courthouse on weekends for special events as we have been told, the question of just how much security is needed and what the costs will be needs to be decided . Non profit, civic organizations such as ours certainly cannot pay such high costs. The need for security when the legal functions of the courthouse are in progress is evident; however, when there is a civic event confined to the public areas of the building the need becomes questionable. Under such - circumstanees, the courthouse would be much like other public buildings such as the Community Center or the Main Library. 1 have discussed the subject of security with Sheriff Gary Wheeler. He feels that it is wasteful and unnecessary to require armed guards and metal detectors when the courthouse is being used: for a special event. I le and 1 agree that a building and grounds staff member who Inas access to electrical panels, air conditioning controls, maintenance equipment etc. and who can open and close the building for us would serve our needs very 42 February 21, 1995