Board to outlaw weapons in county buildings
By Donna Comella

Unless you are a police officer or other authorized peace officer, don't carry a weapon into a county building.

At Tuesday's meeting, the Wayne County Board of Supervisors took steps to create a law that prohibits anyone from carrying guns or other dangerous weapons into the various official buildings. The list of "other dangerous weapons" includes: explosives, electronic stun devices, certain chemicals and gases, target guns or imitation pistols, and an interesting list of knives.

County Administrator Dan Kane said that the law is modeled after those adopted by surrounding counties - most prompted by an incident in Schuyler County in which a gunman fired upon employees of the Department of Social Services.

Kane said that without the law, there is nothing to stop someone from entering one of the county buildings and brandishing a weapon to intimidate employees. He added that currently, the only county buildings where weapons are prohibited are the County Courthouse, the Hall of Justice and the County Jail.

The discussion turned to concerns of a County Highway Employee who has been known to carry a gun. Kane and County Attorney Mark Alquist agreed that to stop the practice, supervisors need only re-write policy, not initiate a new law.

As for the proposed weapons law, supervisors set the public hearing for June 17 at 10 a.m. in the Supervisors' Chambers of the Wayne County Courthouse in Lyons. Only Galen Supervisor Louis DeLisio voted against the move.

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