County votes no to regional facility

TIFFIN — The Seneca County Commissioners voted not to move ahead with the next steps to build a regional jail to house inmates needing mental health support at its regular meeting Thursday. The project, started in 2022, was in collaboration with the commissioners of Sandusky and Ottawa counties and after a feasibility study is estimated to cost $60 million to build plus $4 million to $12 million in yearly operational costs. Seneca County Sheriff Fred Stevens reported that over 60% of inmates in the criminal justice system suffer from mental illness and finding a specialized place for them would free up resources elsewhere. Though the first part of the study had been completed, costing each of the three counties $50,000, the Seneca County Board of Commissioners is not interested in completing the next steps of the project. After the study which gave an estimate of costs, "we had to get the oxygen mask out after the shock (of the estimated costs.)" Paradiso joked. "We're at a crossroads. Each county has to look out for themselves." Stevens reported that another deciding factor was the distance as the facility would be built in Seneca County. Instead of traveling the distance, Stevens said he would rather have a four to six-bed facility attached to the Seneca County Jail. "It's just common sense that maybe because we have our own set of needs," Stevens said, "Maybe we don't need to invest in an out-of-county facility that is going to be yearly costs added on to our budget here." When inmates need mental health support, it puts an undue load on corrections officers. "It puts a burden on any system when you have to document every 10 minutes," Stevens said about those inmates needing to be on close suicide or mental health watch. Also brought into the conversation about the study and to help gather statistics was Mircea Handru from the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board. When asked for a comment about the decision, Handru said the need for a mental health facility to house criminals with mental health issues has not diminished. "There are a lot of efforts put into the study over the last year and a half," Handru said. "We are going to continue to work with all three counties that are part of the study to best provide for their needs." Though the commissioners voted not to move forward with the project now, Handru reported that not now might not mean never and was hopeful the need would still be met another way. In other news, the board also heard from superintendent of the Seneca County Opportunity Center, Lew Hurst, about upcoming events including bakery bingo on March 13 and World Down Syndrome Awareness Day on March 21. The Opportunity Center offers support for both children and adults with developmental disabilities. In the last five years, Hurst reported the center has grown by almost 20%. "Mostly children," he said. "We're at an interesting tipping point… generally we've served more adults than children." Now, it's the other way around." Hurst also said that the cause of developmental disabilities may vary but it is sometimes due to a mother's drug use while pregnant. Paradiso read a proclamation recognizing March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. "Whereas individuals with developmental disabilities share a vision for a good life and each individual that has disabilities has skills and talents to enrich the community and people around them," the proclamation read. "We encourage all citizens to support opportunities for individuals with disabilities." Also at the meeting, the commissioners heard from Katie Cole about 4H. "It's Ohio 4H week," Cole said, later saying children aged 5 through 18 can be involved in 4H. The board then heard from local 4H members with years of membership ranging from four to 11 and experience showing animals of all kinds at Ohio fairs. "I've been an adviser for over 30 years," Frankart said. "It's always good to see the youth come in." He also said 4H members don't need to live on a farm to be a part of 4H. Frankart then read a proclamation celebrating the efforts of the Seneca County 4H youth and Ohio 4H week. "Ohio 4H week creates the opportunity to increase public awareness of 4H programs… Today the program reaches thousands of youth across the state," Frankart read. The board then approved the following supplemental appropriations: $1,400,000.00 from the maintenance and repair fund for the equipment garage. $1,500.00 from the enforcement and education fund for equipment. $3,880.00 from the Seneca County employees health fund for salaries. $60.00 from the Seneca County employees health fund for Medicare. $60.00 from the Seneca County employees health fund for workers comp. $2,895.00 from the Seneca County employees health fund for supplies. $1,200.00 from the Seneca County employees health fund for contract services $127,750.00 from the County Capital Projects Fund for jail. $1,091.82 from the revolving loan fund for contract services. The board also approved the following resolutions: Setting time, date and place to receive sealed bids for the 2025 LPA CR6 CR 12 Pavement resurfacing program. Setting time, date and place to receive sealed requests for proposal of information technology managed services. The next meeting is 10 a.m. Thursday at 111 Madison St. in Tiffin.