$135,000 will pay for upgrades to courthouse

By: Staff reports | Morganton News Herald
Published: December 28, 2009

MORGANTON --

Damage to the courthouse caused when a man drove his car through it in November will be fixed and security will be tightened.
The county will spend $135,000 to make upgrades to the Burke County Courthouse. Commissioners approved the repairs this month.
Police say Herbert Bristol, 53, of 3585 N.C. 18 South, drove his Pontiac through the south side of the courthouse on Nov. 6, breaking through two sets of double doors and stopping in the lobby.
Part of the repairs to the building will include replacing the damaged wall and installing a guardrail and steel posts with a brick facade around the entrance. The guardrail and steel posts would stop a car from driving through the courthouse, said Ron Lewis, county manager.
The repairs also will take the courthouse down to one entrance to improve security.
An airlock glass entrance will be added, he said. That will allow people to get out of the weather if there is a line to get into the secure entrance, Lewis said.
Officers will monitor the entrance with security measure such as a metal detector and 20 more security cameras will be added, Lewis said. A control room will be added for officers to monitor the cameras.
All of that, Lewis said, will be done for $135,000 because construction costs are down and construction companies are looking for work.
Lewis said he hopes the work can be complete by spring.
"We're going to do it as quickly and economically as possible," Lewis said.

$135,000 will pay for upgrades to courthouse

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