NEW BOSTON, Texas-After going at least four to five years without courthouse security at the front of the building, Bowie County Commissioners will consider restoring it during a 9 a.m. meeting today.
Commissioners will consider a request by the Bowie County Sheriff's Office to create at least two staffing positions for courthouse security.
If the BCSO request is approved, commissioners will then take action on funding the newly created positions.
Bowie County Judge James Carlow said both measures will allow the courthouse to restore the front entrance security it implemented following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C.
County officials discontinued this security measure following some severe financial problems between 2011 and 2015. Since then, the county has been able to recover enough to allow for the security measure's reimplementation, Carlow said.
Carlow added that the money to fund the security measures will require at least $70,000 annually. This will come out of the county's Courthouse Security Fund.
Bowie County Sheriff James Prince said that in recent times, the district judges have expressed a strong interest in getting the front entrance security measure in place again.
At present, Prince has one person available to work this security detail. Two others will need to be hired to help man the security post during the courthouse's regular business daily hours.
"It's been a good long while now that I have had this intent to bring about the courthouse security we had before," Prince said.
In other business, the Commissioners will consider authorizing a $50,000 contribution as the county's share of matching funds for a $350,000 grant from the Northeast Texas Regional Mobility Authority. The grant money will be used to finance a feasibility study that focuses on an Interstate 369 West Spur project connecting existing major roadways.
Overall, a $100,000 match is needed for the grant. Earlier this month, the Texarkana, Texas, City Council pledged a $25,000 contribution to the match. Carlow said the county will consider a $50,000 contribution. The remaining matching funds will be considered by TexAmericas Center, which is expected to benefit from the transportation project.