Latest news with #WilliamNiemi
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
18-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Keep the Peace panel focuses on community issues
CONNEAUT — The Conneaut Area Ministerial Association and the Jefferson Community Church of God in Christ hosted a Keep the Peace panel at First Congregational United Church of Christ Friday. The panel included Ashtabula County Sheriff William Niemi, Conneaut Municipal Court Judge Nicholas Iarocci and county Mental Health and Recovery Services Board Executive Director Kaitie Park Hart. The panel was facilitated by Reverend Isaac Chappell, and discussed community outreach and dealing with people suffering from addiction or mental health issues, and how their institutions relate to it. 'Prevention starts in the family and in the community,' Park Hart said. 'There is only so much we can do with prevention in our schools that's actually going to impact our kids.' Park Hart said the MHRS has a mobile crisis team that works with law enforcement. 'Whenever there is a crisis situation, law enforcement can call our mobile crisis provider, which is Signature Health,' she said. 'Unfortunately, it's not 24/7. We're working on that. Workforce is a huge issue in Ashtabula County. For all of the services that we have available, we need more people to provide those services.' Niemi talked about county leaders' interest in getting funding to expand the jail. 'That jail was built in 1977,' Niemi said. 'The people that we deal with now are on a whole different level. Mental health is one of the biggest issues we're dealing with today.' Park Hart said the MHRS board works to provide services at the county jail. 'There are a couple therapists in the jail,' she said. 'We have a case manager. Like the sheriff said, space is absolutely an issue.' Niemi said the jail lacks space for counselors. 'Our jail is falling apart,' he said. 'It doesn't meet our needs, basically, and it's very possibly costing the county over three and a half million dollars.' Iarocci talked about the Conneaut Renewal Court he started in the city. It is one of three Substance Abuse and Mental Illness courts in Ohio, and focuses on helping people suffering from those issues, who are sent to the municipal court. 'There were two people in [the Conneaut] jail, our little jail, who had serious mental health issues and substance abuse issues,' he said. 'One young lady was sleeping on the streets and was 23 years old.' Iarocci said he wanted the 23-year-old woman sent to Renewal Court, regardless of what happened with her case. 'When she was sentenced ... I basically said we have a bed for you for the next hour, and you're immediately going to residential treatment,' he said. The woman had never had residential treatment before, he said. 'She just started crying,' he said. 'This was a girl, who three days before, refused to be assessed.' Reverend Eddie Parker, a community engagement liaison, was also part of the panel. Parker said churches can get involved with community outreach and helping youth suffering from substance abuse issues. 'We're not proselytizing and trying to engage them in faith,' he said. 'We're trying to be a friend and meet the emotional needs. The church happens just to be a safe, neutral meeting place.'
