Aug. 13, 2010

My Fox Atlanta

Courthouse Security Budget Gets Boost


Updated: Friday, 13 Aug 2010, 6:56 PM EDT

Published : Friday, 13 Aug 2010, 6:45 PM EDT

By: MORSE DIGGS/myfoxatlanta

ATLANTA - An outcry over security funding to protect the Fulton County courthouse may be getting some results. The county chairman said Friday that millions have been put back into the budget for security improvements.

The move comes five years after defendant Brian Nichols overpowered a female deputy and went on a shooting spree inside the courthouse.

Chairman John Eaves says a project list has been revised again after some public and private negotiations.

The public part came on Wednesday through lobbying by courthouse occupants and an observation by the district attorney that it is more dangerous today than when Nichols went on his rampage.

The district attorney delivered a warning in an ominous tone regarding the state of security some five years after a shooting rampage left a total of four people dead, three at courthouse. Nichols fired the shots and is serving jail time.

A controversy simmers over a decision by Fulton County's political leaders to leave out millions for courthouse security in a new capital budget. The chairman signaled the commission will reverse itself.

Eaves and the other commissioners have gotten phone calls and emails asking for an explanation about their funding priorities. Citizens want to know how major security improvements for the downtown courthouse could be left off the list.

Four votes are required to approve the new funding.

Eaves stopped short of saying those votes are completely locked down, but added that he expects a favorable decision.