By Sherry Koonce

The News staff writer

BEAUMONT — Increased security measures at the Jefferson County Courthouse could get a bit uncomfortable for people trying to find parking places in lots that are already crowded.

County Commissioners on Monday approved a recommendation to establish a tow-away zone in front of the historical courthouse and the courthouse annex, at 1149 and 1001 Pearl Street and on the north side of Franklin Street. About 28 parking spots will be lost, County Judge Ron Walker, said.

The tow-away zone was recommended by the Travis County Sheriff’s Department after the agency provided an security assessment of the Jefferson County Courthouse.

Establishment of the zone on the courthouse side of the roads will provide a barrier to vehicles posing a security risk to the courthouse buildings, Brent Weaver, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department Administrative Assistant to the Sheriff, said.

Additionally, the vehicle-free zone would make it easier for fire trucks to access hydrants that are located across the street from the courthouse.

Weaver said it was not unusual for courthouses to impose this type zone as a security measure.

Though the zone would decrease parking by a total of 28 spaces, 38 parking spots were recently freed for employee parking. Those spaces are in the rear of the courthouse, by the agriculture building and the courthouse service center. Utilizing those areas should alleviate parking problems most of the time, Weaver said.

In an earlier interview Jeff Branick, assistant to the County Judge, said there has been some discussion about staggering court sessions. If a new court schedule is established, it would decrease parking problems when people are at the courthouse for proceedings such as jury selection.

‘When you really get serious about security, it really has a way of being uncomfortable for a lot of people, but the experts believe securing this perimeter around the courthouse parking areas that are vulnerable is what we need to do,” Walker said.

The city of Beaumont Police Department will be in charge of enforcing the zone.

In other matters, Commissioners approved a contract with Ford Motor Company and South Texas Ford Dealers to provide the local car dealers another five years’ exclusive naming rights to Ford Park.

According to terms of the new contract, the Ford dealers will pay $140,000 for exclusive naming rights to the entertainment complex for the first year, and $155,000 for the remaining four years.