Logo courtesy of Sutter County Library

YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) – The Sutter County Board of Supervisors approved new security cameras for the Sutter County Library and continued security guard services after repeated acts of vandalism caused more than $100,000 in damage to the library's heating and air conditioning system.

Supervisors approved the purchase and installation of camera systems at the Sutter County Library main branch and the county's Information Technology building at 463 Second St. They also approved budget adjustments totaling $18,000 to fund the projects by shifting existing appropriations within the Library and Information Technology budgets, resulting in no additional cost to the county's General Fund.

General Services Director Ken Sra reported the library's HVAC system was vandalized and stripped for copper on May 19. Vandals returned two days later and again damaged the system, pushing estimated repair costs above $100,000.

Sra said General Services worked with the Library, Risk Management and the County Administrator's Office to develop a cost-effective solution to better secure both the library and Information Technology facilities. The Auditor-Controller's Office will oversee the budget adjustments while General Services will procure and coordinate installation of the camera systems.

In a separate consent calendar action, supervisors approved a three-year agreement with Armed Guard Private Security Inc. to continue providing security services for Health and Human Services and the library through June 30, 2029. The contract authorized spending of up to $843,807 for fiscal year 2026-27, $873,394 for 2027-28 and $904,027 for 2028-29.

The library's share of the contract totaled $57,954 for fiscal year 2026-27, increasing to $59,985 in 2027-28 and $62,080 in 2028-29. The services will continue to be funded through the General Fund.

Sra said Armed Guard had provided security services to Sutter County since 2019. Although the county awarded the contract to another company in 2023, officials determined that provider did not meet performance expectations and returned to Armed Guard later that year because of its record of providing consistent, reliable security services.

The agreement called for Armed Guard to continue to provide one unarmed security officer at the library Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., including a one-hour unpaid lunch break. The officer's duties include helping maintain a safe environment for library staff and visitors, observing and reporting suspicious activity, responding to disturbances, and contacting law enforcement when necessary. The contract also allows the county to adjust security coverage if operational needs change.

Although set by an agenda 72 hours in advance, the additional security decision came just one day after the June 22 shooting at the Butte County Library's Chico branch, where two people were killed and a child was injured.

Following that attack, Butte County immediately partnered with Armed Guard to station unarmed security guards at all open library branches.

Butte County officials said the temporary security measures are being funded through the county's existing budget while they evaluate whether the expanded security presence should become permanent.