No shutdown for county despite bomb threats, canceled meeting

The terrorist assaults that occurred Tuesday morning prompted many government entities around the state to tighten security or close down completely.

In Yuma County, it was business as usual, despite that and two bomb threats which turned out to be hoaxes.

“There will be no shutdown. As far as I'm concerned, the county's government will continue working,” said Tony Reyes, chairman of the Yuma County Board of Supervisors.

Reyes, in response to calls about what measures the county was taking following the day's terrorist attacks, made the statement moments after a special session of the county supervisors to discuss the 2010 Comprehensive Land Plan was cancelled Tuesday morning.

“At this point in time, the county government will continue operating, if not normally, at least as best as it can,” Reyes said.

The message Reyes said he wanted to send to the community was the county was going to conduct its official business as normal, with as few disruptions as possible, given all that has happened.

In addition, all the county's executive level management personnel met at noon to discuss the situation as it pertained to Yuma County.

Acting strictly in a precautionary manner, Reyes said all extra officers were being called in to help with security measures and to assist in coordinating any emergency responses that may become necessary.

“The sheriff has assured me he has sent deputies to check on structures that may be targets for terrorism,” Reyes said.

He also said that the sheriff's office was already working closely with the Border Patrol in providing additional security at the border.

Reyes also said the county is trying not to react to the situation, but concedes events such as this have ripple effects.

One such effect involved a bomb threat at the Yuma County Courthouse.

Kevin Tunell, the county's public and legislative affairs director, said bomb threats at the building happen periodically, but with the threat coinciding with the day's events, the county was taking it more seriously.

“This isn't the first time something like this has happened, but it's starting to happen more frequently,” he said while standing in front of the courthouse. “Particularly on a day like today, with what is going on across the rest of the United States, we are going to be as safe as possible.”

Tunell confirmed someone on the court staff received a call about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday and the building was evacuated shortly afterwards.

“We don't know yet what was said exactly to the person, but there was an inference made to a bomb being in the building,” he said.

A bomb-sniffing dog from the Marine Corps Air Station Yuma was called to the scene around 10 a.m. to search the building for explosives. A second dog came 30 minutes later to assist in the search.

County Administrator Wally Hill said the dogs completed their search of the building some time after 11 a.m. and no bomb was found. Normal courthouse activities resumed at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Tunell said he arrived at the building within minutes after the call was received and the building had already been evacuated.

“How long it actually took to pass the word and get people out of the building was a matter of minutes,” Tunell said. “They have a good response time for something like this and everybody was moved out of the building quickly and effectively.”

A bomb threat was also received at the Yuma County Juvenile Court at about 11:40 a.m.

Tunell said neither of the bomb threats are believed to be related to the national crisis.

That building was evacuated and no bomb was found there, either. Business resumed later in the afternoon.

Reyes offered numerous distractions as the reason the meeting was cancelled, not any real perceived threats to the county or any government agency.

“There were just a lot of notes being passed to me, along with several phone calls that I had to make, and I just didn't feel like we were able to give the discussion enough attention,” he said.