New Phone Lockers for Courthouse

New lockers for phones and other items not allowed in the Champaign County Courthouse are coming soon to replace the old system and its associated security concerns.

New courthouse lockers to be installed in late May
New lockers for Champaign County Courthouse patrons to park their electronics should be operational in about a month.

Champaign County Sheriff Dustin Heuerman said lockers will be installed on the east side of the courthouse, in the parking lot under the same shelter where the kiosk to pay for parking is...

Heuerman said some people put more things in those lockers than phones, causing him security headaches, and frequently would forget the combination, necessitating rescue by his staff.

He and Dana Brenner, the county's facilities director, put their heads together to come up with an alternative that Heuerman said will be safer and cost-effective.

Brenner has ordered 24 lockers that will be installed next to the parking pay station. They will be approximately 8 inches by 7 inches and 8 inches deep. Users will install a quarter, load items into the locker, turn a key, lock the locker, then take the key with them inside the courthouse.

Full article with additional information here. Following up on a post earlier this month. Relevant Excerpt:

The News-Gazette and WCCU had coverage of the public locker issue last week. One major concern is that a lot of transportation is arranged through phone apps and communication for those who don't have access to a car. I've noticed a bit of a generational split on unsympathetic folks who grew up without relying on cell phones versus younger folks and advocates for the poor who point out that it's part of basic access to services now. The media coverage mainly focused on the nuts and bolts:

Doors to close on lobby lockers at sheriff's office
Concerns about the safety of the building have prompted the Champaign County sheriff to discontinue a storage-locker service in the lobby of his office at 204 E. Main St., U.

Sheriff Dustin Heuerman announced Friday that as of May 1, the 30 lockers will be removed.

"It's safety concerns," Chief Deputy Shannon Barrett said of the reason for discontinuing the public service. "They are not monitored. We don't know what's going into those lockers."
...
Barrett said Heuerman has looked into other options but hasn't found anything suitable.
"We have been trying to figure out what we can do different. It still comes down to the safety issue. No matter how small (a locker) is, a bomb could be put in there," she said. "He has done everything he can. It comes down to the safety of this building, especially having the jail below us."

Full article available here. In a short segment on WCCU, it was added, "They also said they are reaching out to community leaders and groups to find a solution."