RNC will force County Center to close, other buildings to restrict employee access

TAMPA - Traffic and protests will make doing business in downtown Tampa tedious during the 2012 Republican National Convention (RNC).

The United States Secret Service hasn't announced the official perimeter yet but some government buildings are already planning on shutting down for four days.

"We are going to close down. With that much uncertainty and the proximity to the main venue, why would you take unnecessary risks both in terms of the public as well as the employees," said Doug Belden, Hillsborough County Tax Collector.

The County Center is one of the closest government buildings to the Tampa Bay Times Forum, where the convention will be hosted. 

Belden said they will move county employees to a handful of satellite offices. Some employees will work remotely from home and the building, which is primarily glass, will be safe-guarded.

"With us, the primary focus is on protecting our facilities, the government facilities we are responsible for.  So we're taking the appropriate security measures to secure them," said Chief Ron Rogers, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue.

Some Hillsborough County judges will work remotely too, because first appearances and other important court hearings will likely be moved.

"We're in discussions with the Sheriff about doing those at the jail," explained Mike Bridenback, Hillsborough County Court Administrator.

Court administrators say they may adopt a 24-hour court docket to deal with an anticipated increase in arrests.

At Tampa's city hall, the mayor says city employees will be given a chance to work at other locations.

"They'll go to an alternative site. Certainly, I wouldn't encourage people to come down here and pay their parking tickets, or pay their water bills, use the computer. You know, pay it online. Just for that week, understand that there's going to be a lot of inconveniences," he said.

It's possible some downtown towers could be fenced in. Buckhorn says privately-owned buildings including banks will be in charge of their own security measures.