By Gregory Korte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Starting today, Cincinnati residents who want to apply for building permits, pay water bills or visit their elected representatives at City Hall will be subject to search and passed through a metal detector.

City Manager Valerie Lemmie is instituting the restrictions at the request of Vice Mayor Alicia Reece, who said a July trip to New York - where a councilman was shot and killed at City Hall - awakened her to the need for tightened security.

"We can't be prepared for terrorists if we don't have simple security measures in place right here at our own City Hall," Reece said. "We're trying to send a message to people when they come to City Hall that we're trying to make it safe for you."

The city will place metal detectors at two entrances: the main Plum Street entrance and the handicapped-accessible courtyard entrance. The four other entrances to the 110-year-old building will be closed.

Total cost to taxpayers: $100,000 in equipment and $490 a day for the four additional security guards needed to guard the entrances. Lemmie said the money would come from the city's existing budget, and the measures did not require City Council approval.

City officials said they know of no incidents in which someone brought a gun to City Hall.

Other city facilities - including the offices in the Centennial Two building across from City Hall, will be unaffected.

City Hall joins a number of government buildings with restricted access. Federal and county courthouses and the Department of Jobs and Family Services require visitors to pass through metal detectors.

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E-mail gkorte@enquirer.com