Residents looking to attend future Alton City Council meetings will have to follow stricter security measures from here on out.
The increased security protocols come after months of city council discussion in Alton over potential data center developments and regulations.
At an City Council meeting on October 28th, 46-year-old Daniel Mertz was arrested for threatening a public official and police officers. He was removed from the meeting and later charged on three counts
On Monday, the city announced the new protocols -- which include new screening processes on entry, a limited bag policy, an updated seating capacity for the city council chamber and an additional overflow room for attendees.
Alton Mayor David Goins commented on the changes in a separate statement to KMOX:
"Everyone in our community should be able to express their views on any issue, without feeling intimidated or unsafe. Respectful disagreement is a healthy part of our community's decision-making process, and we want to protect that. After a recent threat, we were compelled to revisit our safety protocols.
Metal detectors are commonplace at courthouses, schools and other public gatherings. Keeping our community safe is always our first priority, and that is why we have decided to begin screenings and a bag policy here at City Hall.
We also had to consider how we would quickly evacuate Council Chambers. To do so, we asked the Alton Fire Department to advise us on how many people we can safely accommodate, and what further measures were needed to provide safe access from the building in case of an emergency. Fire evacuation routes will be more clearly identified as a result, and those routes will be kept clear. Additional public seating was added to Council Chambers and the room arranged so that an increased number of visitors can sit. Moving forward, if we need to consider alternative locations for meetings due to larger crowds, we can do that as the need arises.
Is this about data centers? Yes and no. Data centers are driving an increased level of engagement and may be the main topic of conversation right now, but this is about keeping people safe in our public buildings regardless of the reason for their visit.
Is this about trying to stifle public input? Absolutely not. I would argue that creating a safe space for people to exercise their first amendment right is a fundamental responsibility for the City of Alton."
The next Alton City Council meeting is next Wednesday, November 18th.
Listen to a shorter version of the story at the podcast above.
Mayor says it's due to verbal threats at the last meeting.
Mayor says it's due to verbal threats at the last meeting.
