The Bryan County Board of Commissioners is looking to make the County Administration Complex in South Bryan a safer place for employees.

Commissioners discussed but took no action during a regular meeting in Pembroke the possibilities of making the building safer when Sheriff Clyde Smith, Tax Commissioner Carrol Ann Coleman and Clerk of Courts Becky Crowe expressed concern for employees’ safety.

County Administrator Ray Pittman said Friday safety has been an “ongoing issue,” because there aren’t structural features — like a reception desk behind a window — to separate clerks in various offices from clients.

“It was an incident in my office a couple of weeks ago (that caused concern),” Crowe told commissioners during the meeting.

She said because the clerk of court’s office is at the end of the hallway, it doesn’t see a lot of foot traffic or people walking by. If something happened, it could go unnoticed.

“I’ve only got one employee there and that’s my biggest concern,” Crowe said.

While no details of that incident were given, Pittman noted it was not “extremely dangerous.” He added that occasionally disgruntled clients can be rude or encroach in clerk’s personal space, making them feel uncomfortable.

Coleman said training seminars for the new vehicle title ad valorem tax encouraged counties to amp up security.

“Every training opportunity I’ve been to recently with this new title ad valorem tax … the Department of Revenue has mentioned and suggested that we go back to our counties and make them aware that there may be the need for more security,” Coleman said. “There are going to be situations where people get a bad surprise when they come in.”

Pittman said safety of employees and clients is of utmost importance to the county, which is why commissioners are looking at several options to improve safety.

Read more in the March 16 edition of the News.