KANNAPOLIS — At its March 25 meeting, the Kannapolis City Council voted to make enhancements to enforce safety and security procedures for public meetings that take place at the city hall building.

In 1995, Kannapolis passed an ordinance which banned “all weapons” in city buildings, but allowed law enforcement and active military members to have them, though there “has been no active enforcement” of this rule. There is at least one police officer present at all city council meetings, but not at “meetings of citizen-led boards and commissions.”

Presented before the council were four options to choose from: take no action, increase the number of police officers at the meetings, authorize those with concealed carry permits to have them on site, or do more to enact the current weapons ordinance.

Letting people with a concealed carry permit in most county buildings and properties is authorized in Rowan and Cabarrus Counties, but Kannapolis Police Chief Terry Spry stated he was against this due to how the “relatively high density of people” can lead to an accident.

“I am vehemently opposed to having concealed carry in a building such as this. I think we have too many matters where tempers flare, Council Member Jeanne Dixon said. “I feel very secure with having Chief Spry at every meeting.”

Mayor Pro Tem Doug Wilson as well as Council Members Ryan Dayvault and Tom Kincaid all agreed that metal detectors would be an appropriate route to take.

However, Mayor Darrell Hinnant voiced his concerns on having these measures only apply to public meetings at city hall.

“I’m uncomfortable if we’re only going to do this for us and for the other official meetings that are going to be here,” Hinnant said. “It seems to suggest that we’re special, that we’re different, that we need to be protected when the others shouldn’t be protected.”

The council ultimately decided to better enforce the weapons ordinance that has been around for nearly three decades, with Hinnant being the lone dissenting vote. Concord and Gastonia have both passed identical legislation in recent years.

“Mobile metal detection equipment” that includes “walk-through equipment” or “handheld wands” would be set up a couple hours before each meeting begins at the main entrance in the gallery outside the building. Officers would be present to monitor people coming to the meetings. Large bags would need to be searched, but belts and jewelry do not have to be removed. Anyone coming to or leaving a meeting would have to use the main entrance of city hall.

The proposed cost to implement this option would range from $5,000 to $10,000 for the equipment. The law enforcement staff time would be worked into the city’s budget.