Latest news with #Ashtabula
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
County awarded $15 million to help fund new jail
JEFFERSON — After years of chasing grants, Ashtabula County finally came up a winner Friday, as Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced a $15 million grant for the construction of a new jail. 'The Ashtabula County Board of Commissioners and Ashtabula County Sheriff William Niemi are proud to announce the successful acquisition of $15 million in state funding toward the construction of a new county jail,' a press release from the commissioners said. The grant money will be matched by $15 million the commissioners have saved towards the project, the commissioners said at previous meetings. Niemi, in consultation with the commissioners, decided a new jail just north of the present one on county property would be the most financially-expedient plan. The funding is through the Ohio Jail Safety and Security Program, which was launched by DeWine in partnership with the Ohio General Assembly in 2021 to help local communities fund improvements at functionally obsolete and structurally failing jails, according to a press release from DeWine's office. 'This funding will not only support safer environments for those living and working in our local jails, but it will also help prepare inmates for release by creating improved spaces for workforce development, educational opportunities, and other programming,' DeWine said in the release. The commissioners have been working with Niemi to find the best solution to the current county jail, which is too small, and has been deteriorating. 'I can't tell you what a relief this is, for all the hard work we put into it,' Niemi said. He said the current jail not only has functional problems, but is too small to allow programming that would hopefully reduce recidivism. 'We don't have the space to bring the counselors in,' Niemi said. He said the increased space will allow inmates to have a fuller evaluation and hopefully find their way to the right path. 'This is a transformational moment for Ashtabula County,' Commissioner JP Ducro said in the commissioners' press release. 'This funding allows us to move forward. It is a testament to the persistence of county leaders, the support of our sheriff, and the responsible planning that made a local match possible. I am especially pleased that we can now build a facility that should help reduce recidivism and be much more operationally efficient for decades to come.' The current jail was constructed in 1978 and has long been outdated and insufficient to meet the demands of law enforcement, county leaders have said during the last year of discussions and debate. 'This is a major win. We're incredibly grateful to the state for awarding the full amount of our grant request,' Commissioner Casey Kozlowski said in the release. 'This funding allows us to move forward with the jail project; finally addressing a decades long issue in Ashtabula County.' 'Securing this funding is a major step forward for our county. This project isn't just about building a new facility — it's about making a smart investment in public safety, creating a safe environment for inmates and staff and serving the needs of our community,' Commissioner Kathryn Whittington said in the release. Niemi said in the release Friday was a historic day for the county. 'The new facility will give us the tools we need to run a secure, effective operation and provide the level of care and accountability the people of this county expect,' he said in the release. 'I thank the commissioners, our partners at the state level, and the people of Ashtabula County for supporting this long-overdue step forward.' The new jail will also be helpful for law enforcement agencies and other county courts and departments. 'That is great news,' Ashtabula Police Chief Robert Stell said. 'That is sure to be good for all the [police] departments including ours.' He said there have been crowding issues at the county jail for 10 years, which caused city jails to fill up for longer periods of time. The proposed new jail design would house 209 inmates and take approximately three years to build. Niemi said meetings to discuss the next steps toward construction will start very soon.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Accessible restroom project moving forward at Ashtabula Arts Center
ASHTABULA — Several people gathered at the Ashtabula Arts Center Friday for a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate to soon-to-start construction of an accessible bathroom at the center. The accessible restroom will include a universal changing table, which is large enough to serve anybody of any size or background. Ashtabula Arts Center Executive Director Lori Starling said arts center leadership are hoping to have the restroom done by the start of indoor theater show season in the fall. 'It's not just a bathroom,' she said. 'For those individuals that struggle finding places to attend because of their mobility issues, or anything else, it is a big deal, because they actually map out the route of where they can use the bathroom.' Starling said to her, accessibility means anyone can come to the arts center and enjoy its programs. 'We want this to be an all-inclusive space,' she said. Accessing an average public restroom is often not simple for someone who has mobility issues, Starling said. 'People that are coming through the area, even if they're traveling somewhere else, can actually look us up on a map, stop here and know that we have that universal changing table,' she said. A portion of the funding for the construction, $45,000, comes from the state's capital budget. Ohio State Senator Sandra O'Brien said she has been a supporter of the arts center for a long time. 'My children grew up here in theater,' she said. 'I tell people that the quality of our arts is pretty amazing, for the amount of people we have in the county.' O'Brien said the art center's program allowed her children to become friends with people of all ages. 'Being in the same play together, they would laugh together,' she said. O'Brien presented a certificate from the Ohio General Assembly honoring the arts center. The Ashtabula County Board of Development Disabilities also contributed $20,000 to the project. Board of DD Community Outreach Specialist Angela Thomas said the board also donated a universal changing table for the project. Board of DD Director of Early Intervention Amanda Clugh said accessibility means that anyone can have a dignified space where they can use a restroom. 'With this restroom, if you're somebody that needs additional space, you could attend services, and have the space that you need,' she said. Clugh said accessible restrooms are being implemented at rest areas across Ohio. 'Our county board has a changing table, and that's the vision we hope to see for the future that any restroom would be accessible,' she said.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Commissioners discuss county "loss team" options
JEFFERSON — The possible creation of a loss team was discussed Thursday morning during a work session of the Ashtabula County Board of Commissioners at the request of Ashtabula County Coroner's Office Chief Investigator and Administrator Amber Stewart. Stewart prepared a proposal for the commissioners, seeking the creation of a team to assist families who have lost loved ones. She said a loss team was operational in the county until 2022, through the Ashtabula County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board, but has been inoperative since. Stewart said she has been working with the Geauga County Loss Team in cases where families needed special assistance, and believes the program is needed in Ashtabula County. A recent situation highlighted the need, Stewart said. 'I can't tell you how important was to have them on scene,' she said of a visit by the Geauga volunteers. Stewart said she has been studying the issue for two years, and sought to create it through the victims of crime office, but it didn't work out. 'It is just something our community needs,' she said, adding it could help reduce suicides. Stewart said the former loss team had a specific purpose, and her vision for the new organization is broader. 'We want to focus on all catastrophic loss,' she said. All three commissioners said they agree on the need for the program, but were concerned with financing of the operation. Stewart's proposal included a full-time administrator in a budget of around $60,000. Commissioner Casey Kozlowski said the county runs a lean operation, and wondered about the size of the expenditure. Commissioner Kathryn Whittington brought up financial questions, but felt it was an important program. She said she would be in favor of revisiting the idea after mid-year department financial evaluations are complete. The commissioners have committed to a review of department budgets because of a drop in sales taxes collections. Commissioner J.P. Ducro said he would like to discuss the idea further with Stewart. 'What would the bare minimum needed to get something started?' he said. The commissioners said they will invite Stewart back to review the possibilities this summer. Kozlowski said there might be a way to find a present county employee to receive a stipend to run the organization, which would be made up of volunteers. Ducro also wondered about a three-county collaboration to make a regional loss team. A volunteer from the Geauga County Loss Team attended the work session and explained how it works. The commissioners tentatively agreed to a new software company to administer the court computer network. Ashtabula County Court of Common Pleas Administrator Kathy Thompson said the new company would provide significant upgrades to the system, and could assist in getting out jury information. Thompson said spending seems to be going well so far this year when Kozlowski asked if the cost could be met by the present budget. The commissioners accepted the certification of the results of the Ashtabula County Mental Health and Recovery Services and Ashtabula County Senior Services Board levies, both of which were approved by voters earlier this month. They also passed a resolution of necessity for the renewal of an existing two-mill levy for the Ashtabula County Board of Developmental Disabilities. Kozlowski said the Board of DD is not seeking to renew a .5 mill levy, which will save tax payers money. Dennis Swihart was appointed and David Waldron was reappointed to the Airport Board of Zoning Appeals. Kaylee Berry was also appointed to the Ashtabula County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board, and Greg Myers was reappointed to the Ashtabula County Transportation Improvement District.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Memorial Day draws attention to veteran sacrifice
Varied ways to lift up the memory of veterans who provided the ultimate sacrifice occurred in different places in different ways Monday as area communities found ways to commemorate Memorial Day. The ceremonies varied as much as the communities that sponsored them. Many continued traditions started decades ago and are repeated each year as a reminder of the abiding care for veterans. The village of Rock Creek showed up in force and marched south on Route 45 from High Street to Union Cemetery complete with the Jefferson Area High School Marching Band providing music. Ceremonies took place throughout the county, including Evergreen Cemetery in Geneva, Conneaut's War Memorial and Ashtabula's War Memorial as well as many small townships in between.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Animal Protective League rescues 72 animals
The Ashtabula County Animal Protective League recently rescued 72 animals after receiving a tip from a concerned person. APL Shelter Director Diane King said the tip brought them to a property in Ashtabula, where they recovered 44 animals May 15. The APL and its humane officer was assisted by the Ashtabula Police Department's animal control officer, King said. The county humane agent works with the APL and has the authority to enforce provisions of the Ohio Revised Code relating to animal cases. King said they got a tip the property owner had a second home outside the city, which they responded to May 27. 'We removed another 28 animals,' she said. King said she could say where the second property was located. The 72 rescued animals consisted of 69 cats and three dogs. 'We are trying to work with other shelters, rescues, anybody that's able to pull animals from us at this time would be helpful,' she said. King has been the shelter director for around a month, she said. 'I've been involved with working with animals for 25 years,' she said. 'I came from Trumbull County as the Chief Humane Officer and Program and Outreach Director. So, I have a pretty extensive background in animal care, and cruelty and neglect [cases].' King described the conditions she saw during the recent rescue. 'Entering a home like that, it's difficult to navigate,' she said. 'It was dark and you're hit with an overwhelming smell of fecal ammonia. Your eyes burn. Your throat burns. We had to wear respirators. You're walking on uneven ground, because there's several inches of urine and feces caked throughout the entire home.' King said the floor was squishy beneath her feet because of all the urine and feces. Animal hoarding houses have a distinct and overwhelming smell, she said. 'You typically see a lot of flies outside,' she said. 'You can smell it on the front porch.' King said Ohio residents who want to leave a tip about a property they suspect of hoarding animals can reach out to the county humane society. 'A lot of cat hoarding cases, sometimes it's due to mental illness, but other times it's due to a population explosion,' she said. 'It's very important that you spay and neuter your animals.' People can learn about mobile clinics available through and 'They are traveling [spay and neuter] clinics,' she said. 'They're able to look up different dates and locations.'
