RNC Security Watch: The manholes of St. Paul

As St. Paul readies itself to host the Republican National Convention next month, security preparations are already under way. The precautionary measures taken by the Secret Service and local law enforcement agencies are vast and often occur right under our feet. Take for example the lowly manhole cover.

Last week the author of the blog Entropic Memes noticed that several manhole covers near the Xcel Energy Center had been selectively tagged with blue dots and the site predicted that someone would soon be spot-welding the manhole covers shut.

Phone calls from the Minnesota Independent to the city of St. Paul’s public works, sewer and water departments revealed no such plans, but now that prediction appears to be spot-on. Every manhole cover with a blue dot now has at least two welds holding it shut. A standard security measure for presidential motorcades, the welding of manhole covers is a simple solution to several potential problems. It serves to keep people out of the manhole, of course, but also prevents the 100-pound, cast iron discs from being rolled down streets and sidewalks to cause untold destruction.