New security doors to be added to courthouse

Photo by Tom Hintgen
The Otter Tail County Courthouse in Fergus Falls will have new security doors starting in 2025.

By Tom Hintgen

Otter Tail County Correspondent

New security doors will be added to the Otter Tail County Courthouse just south of downtown Fergus Falls. This plan, presented by the County Sheriff’s Office which is responsible for the safety and security of the courthouse, was approved Aug. 13 by the county board of commissioners.

Currently, the public and employees not assigned to work in the courthouse are required to enter through the main secure entrance on the north side of the building. They are screened by a court security deputy by means of a metal detector, metal detecting wand and a bag scanner.

“If a person wanted to bypass the screening station, there are no barriers in place to prevent that person from making entry into the courthouse,” said Chief Deputy Reed Reinbold to county commissioners. “The court security deputy would be required to give chase and attempt to stop the person, while leaving the screening station unattended.”

The Sheriff’s Office thus proposed building an inner set of security doors just past the screening station, in line with the existing walls. Access through these doors will require the court security deputy to push a button to unlock the doors and allow entry after being screened. 

In light of county board approval on Aug. 13, this project will be completed in 2025. Grant money will be available to help pay for the project.

“We in the Sheriff’s Office always make efforts to keep the courthouse welcoming to the public. At the same time, we believe this project will greatly improve the security of the building.”

The Otter Tail County Courthouse was completed in 1922, three years after a cyclone struck Fergus Falls and destroyed the old courthouse.

The courthouse is four stories tall and has a total of 47,000 square feet of space. The interior of the building is decorated with marble, wood and stained glass. The exterior of the building is made of limestone and terracotta (porous clay). 

The Otter Tail County Courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.