BY ANNE MICHAUD
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Candidates for the Hamilton County commission are at odds over placing a juvenile jail in Bond Hill.
Hotly opposed by residents and Cincinnati planners, the jail would house youths locally instead of sending them to the state system in Columbus and farther away.
Marilyn Hyland, the Democrat vying for the commission seat in November, said county commissioners should work with cities and townships, not against them. She said commissioners should listen to the desires of citizens, about 150 of whom spoke out against the jail last week at a public hearing.
City and county leaders say they might be headed to court over the dispute.
"It seems to me the county commissioners have to respect what the people of Bond Hill want," Ms. Hyland said.
Tom Neyer Jr., her opponent, said correcting juveniles locally is essential to a positive outcome, and many experts say so. He said it would be unrealistic to follow a suggestion that the jail be built at the site of Hillcrest Training School, a minimum-security facility in Springfield Township.
Ms. Hyland supports that site, which is the choice of Cincinnati administrators.
"The alternative she mentioned isn't acceptable for a number of reasons, not the least of which is there is no funding to build it there," Mr. Neyer said. The state has promised to fund most of the expense if a jail is built in Bond Hill.
