Latest news with #AshtabulaCounty
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
- 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
- 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
25-05-2025
- Yahoo
1 killed, 1 severely burned in plane crash in Ashtabula County Sunday
ASHTABULA COUNTY, Ohio (WJW) — One person is dead and another is hospitalized after a plane crash in Ashtabula County Sunday morning, the Ohio State Highway Patrol confirmed to Fox 8 News. Plane crashes in Sandusky County According to Lt. Timothy Grimm with the Ashtabula Post, the patrol received a call at 10:11 a.m. Sunday about a plane crash in the area of SR 307 in Harpersville Township. The Ashtabula County Sheriff's Office was first on scene and confirmed two people were onboard a Zenith 701 single-engine plane that went down not far from the Germack Airport in Geneva. One person had already made it out of the plane and was walking around, Lt. Grimm said. The victim was severely burned and was taken to a hospital. The other occupant was pronounced dead at the scene. The names and ages of the victims have not been released. 'It's a tragic event. There was a life lost in this event,' Lt. Grimm said. Former OSU football player injured in ATV accident It's not clear where the plane was headed or coming from. The FAA and NTSB will assist in the investigation, Lt. Grimm said. This is the second fatal plane crash in Northeast Ohio this month. In early May, a pilot from West Lafayette, Indiana, was killed after his plane went down in Ashland County. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Yahoo
One dead, one injured in Harpersfield plane crash
HARPERSFIELD TOWNSHIP — A plane crash about a half mile east of the Whispering Willow Mobile Home Community killed one person and injured a second Sunday morning, said Ohio State Patrol Lt. Tim Grimm, who commands the Saybrook OHP Post. Grimm said preliminary investigation indicates the plane had taken off from Germak Airport and had trouble gaining altitude over Route 307, narrowly missing a utility pole and striking a tree, coming down about 50 feet south of Route 307 in a grassy area. "There were two males on board, one of them is deceased and the other was transported to the hospital for treatment of burns," Grimm said. He said he was not sure what hospital the man was taken to for treatment. The incident was called in at 10:11 a.m. Grimm said the Ashtabula County Sheriff's Department was first on the scene, and found one man out of the aircraft, then the pilot was pulled from the wreckage. Harpersfield Fire Chief Frank Henry said two fire trucks were sent to the scene from his department, and another from Geneva. He said they were able to put out a small fire and assisted in getting the victims to two ambulances. He said the ambulances were from Northwest Ambulance District, and the man suffering from burns was taken to UH Geneva Medical Center. The pilot was declared dead at the scene, Grimm said. Investigators from the Ashtabula County Coroner's Office were on-scene around 11:30 a.m., as the investigation continued with one lane of traffic allowed on the road. Grimm said the OHP reconstruction team was called to the scene, and an OHP aerial team was able to photograph the area from the air. He said the plane was a 2007 Zenith 701, and was in pieces under a tree on the side of the road. Ashtabula County Sheriff William Niemi said one of his units arrived on-scene and found a man walking outside the plane. "They weren't too far away, and the troopers arrived soon thereafter," he said.
