Texas Justice Facility Reworks Access Control after Design Flaw

Jan. 25, 2005
Funds are approved to fix center's access control system that remained unlocked after employees left the building

Electronically controlled doors in the new Guinn Justice Center have a design flaw that has left the building unlocked after employees leave for the day, Johnson County commissioners were told Monday.

Commissioners voted to spend $2,690 to replace locking mechanisms that security officials said have remained unlocked after employees hit the panic bar to exit the building.

"That leaves the door unsecure until someone comes back and checks it," Sheriff's Lt. Troy Fuller said.

With the new pneumatic controls, the doors would lock behind people as they exit, Fuller said.

The funds will also cover electronic controls on one of two handicapped-access doors to the building. Commissioners said they would try to recover the cost from the original contractor who was supposed to have installed electronic controls on both doors.

In other business Monday, commissioners hired Terrancon Consulting Engineers & Scientists to test construction materials on the $5 million jail addition. The firm will be paid by the hour with the total not to exceed $24,000.

Architect Alan Magee told commissioners that a new bidding process on the 288-bed jail addition will begin today, with bids due in four weeks. The commission rejected the first round of bids last month because some bids were too high and none were made for other items.