VIDALIA — The Concordia Parish courthouse may soon be a modern marvel of security.

On Monday, the Police Jury authorized Secretary-Treasurer Kevin Friloux to open two bank accounts to receive $70,000 from the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

Police Jury President Melvin Ferrington said the money would be used to purchase and install a security system for the Concordia Parish Courthouse.

Though parish officials are still discussing the exact details of the system, Ferrington said the security system’s cost wouldn’t vary significantly from the grant’s value.

The system will include 38 cameras — placed inside and outside the courthouse — multiple panic buttons, an alarm system and after-hours key card access for courthouse employees.

The system will also place video screens — to display camera recordings — in the judge’s office, the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office booking room and the Police Jury Office, Ferrington said.

“It’s important for the courthouse to have some kind of security system, because of the importance of the building,” Ferrington said. “Currently there is no security system. The building just gets locked up.”

The Police Jury will hold a meeting at 10 a.m., June 20, with parish officials to decide on exact plans.

The security system may have to be altered later because of a courtroom renovation under consideration, Police Juror Randy Temple said.

During a meeting with Temple, District Attorney Brad Burget said the courtroom’s design is a problem. Prisoners, judges, attorneys and law enforcement enter the courtroom through the same hallway.

Burget said the design could causes security problem and should be changed.

In other news from the meeting:

• The Police Jury approved two ordinances to prepare for the possibility of AT&T providing TV service in Concordia Parish.

• The Police Jury moved $3,000 from the highway maintenance fund to the general fund, $3,350 from the drainage maintenance fund to the general fund, $1,500 from the solid waste disposal fund to the general fund, $5,025 from the sales tax fund to the general fund, $25,000 from the sales tax fund to the highway maintenance fund and $8,000 from the sales tax fund to the drainage maintenance fund.