Fargo city commissioner says added security needed at City Hall

FARGO (KFGO/KVRR) – Despite some new measures already in place, Fargo City Commissioner Dave Piepkorn says enhanced security measures are needed at City Hall.

Piepkorn says, at a previous commission meeting, some people were not comfortable sitting next to him near the podium and that raised a “red flag” for him.

“We’ve done some things,” Piepkorn says. “To give you an idea – we now have bullet resistant glass at the kiosks where people come in. But at the City Commission meetings, people can come in and there’s no vetting at all. It was just not a safe situation.”

Mayor Tim Mahoney agrees that City Hall needs added security.

“Commissioner Piepkorn brings up a good point,” Mahoney says. “We’ve had discussions, we just haven’t fully brought them back to the commissioners.”

Mahoney says those discussions have been with the police chief and the city facilities manager.

Among the possible security measures is a metal detector at the entrance to City Hall, creating a controlled access to the building similar to what is in place at the Cass County Courthouse.

Piepkorn was not at Monday’s City Commission meeting. He says he had a conflict and could not attend.