Topeka ? Despite the lowering of the national terror alert status, Kansans should not let their guard down, the state’s homeland security director said Wednesday.

Maj. Gen. Greg Gardner said that even with the success of U.S. forces in toppling Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and detecting terrorists, conditions at home still merit monitoring.

“We are still at war with international terrorists, and it is not a safe world,” Gardner said in an interview after the Bush administration lowered the national terror alert level to “yellow,” the midpoint in a five-tier danger scale.

Gardner also noted that Saturday marks the anniversaries of two violent events in recent U.S. history.

Ten years ago, a 51-day siege at the Branch Davidian religious compound near Waco, Texas, ended with dozens dead as fire destroyed the structure after federal agents began smashing their way in. And on April 19, 1995, a truck bomb destroyed the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people.

As Gardner spoke Wednesday, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius was studying whether to relax security measures around the capital complex in downtown Topeka based on new information she had received. Currently, only one Statehouse door is open to the public.

“What we’re likely to do is reopen all the doors at the Capitol,” Sebelius said. “We’d go back to a more open process, but encourage people to remain alert and observant of what they see around them.”

Sebelius will consult legislative leaders on the issue and was to discuss security matters at a meeting today, her spokeswoman said.

House Speaker Doug Mays, R-Topeka, said he would be willing to talk to Sebelius about security. Mays said no changes should be made “on a whim” and that any decisions should await advice from Gardner and other officials.

“It might be the right move. There is a general sense that the tension is lessening,” Mays said.

Security in Topeka increased within hours of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Statehouse doors were locked and concrete barriers were placed around the grounds.

Last month, Sebelius ordered state employees to always wear identification and visitors to sign in at all government buildings and allow random searches of bags and packages.

Kansas Highway Patrol Lt. John Eichkorn said there had been few complaints about the security measures.

“I think most people expect some level of security,” he said, adding that any changes would be based on the perceived threat to public safety and not on public reaction.

Meanwhile, construction continues on a stronger fence — featuring an aircraft cable to stop motor vehicles — around the State Defense Building, about 1.5 miles south of the Statehouse. The building is headquarters for the Kansas National Guard, emergency management and homeland security.

Plans for the building were recently found in Baghdad by U.S. soldiers.