Barton County Commissioners have approved the purchase of new doors for both the east and west entrances to the Barton County Courthouse.
“Recently we have had issues with these doors, especially the automatic latches that make them handicap accessible,” County Administrator Phil Hathcock told the board on Monday. “The hinges on the both sets of doors at the bottom have had to be replaced several times.”
Grant Administrator Sue Cooper was able to obtain a Kansas Health Foundation Impact and Capacity Grant along with a Walmart Community Grant to pay for the $19,900 project. Hathcock says the new door system will allow for electronic card access which offers many advantages for the county.
“If we ever had to shutdown the courthouse again, employees would be able to gain entry by using their county ID. We could also track who came in the building and when.”
Hathcock said another advantage to the keyless access would be if the building were to shut down again, the system would eliminate the need for a deputy to be posted at the doors to limit access.
The Manko doors with handicap accessibility will be purchased from Jimlo Glass Center in Great Bend.