LANSING – The Michigan House Office Building has gone through some technology upgrades over the past couple years, including adding laptops to committee rooms, providing a screen in the elevators to show which floor houses which offices and installing a flat screen television in the lobby to show visitors which committees are meeting. But in recent weeks the building has gone through another update, this time to the security program.
“New security upgrades which include entrance/exit alarms, newer identification cards and additional security cameras were added as part of the HOB refinancing package,” said Greg Bird, spokesperson for House Speaker Andy Dillon (D-Redford Twp.).
The HOB refinancing plan was approved earlier this year as the Strategic Fund issued bonds to purchase the building from its developers, therefore saving $30 million over the next 16 years.
Included in the security update was the installation of cameras in the interior and exterior of public areas “to provide extra protection for visitors, staff and legislators,” Mr. Bird said, not to monitor the doors of lawmakers’ offices.
“Exterior cameras were added to expand coverage at exterior door blind spots, alleyways, bike rack areas and walkways to the Roosevelt Parking ramp. The interior hallway cameras were added to focus on back hallways, which were blind spots on the old system.”
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