BY CINDY SCHROEDER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
INDEPENDENCE -- More than a dozen Kenton County residents and government leaders Tuesday called for the Kenton Fiscal Court to reject a leading jail site in Independence.
Most, including a Covington City Commission candidate, called for county officials to build the new jail in Covington.
"I don't think it's good enough to have it near Covington," said candidate Craig Bohman, adding that police in his city must deal with drug and gang problems. "It needs to be in Covington." While county officials continue to evaluate various locations, the leading contender still appears to be a 106-acre site off Webster Road in Independence, said Kenton Judge-executive Rodney "Biz" Cain.
However, Mr. Cain said selection is not a done deal, contrary to some critics' claims.
"We will work with anybody who wants to work with us, especially Covington," Mr. Cain said. "But so far, Webster Road is the best site we've come up with."
The fiscal court accepted another 683 signatures from peoplewho don't want the jail built on Webster Road. Two weeks ago, county officials accepted petitions signed by 1,275 residents of Erlanger, Independence and Kenton County who said the leading jail site would devalue their homes and endanger their neighborhoods.
Members of fiscal court told questioners that while there have been preliminary talks about a regional jail for all of Northern Kentucky, there are no plans to make the new Kenton County Jail a regional facility.
"I think the answer to that potentially lies in a future fiscal court, not necessarily next year, but maybe 10 to 15 years down the road," Commissioner Steve Arlinghaus said.
Kenton County officials say a new jail is needed because of crowding and high operating costs at the present jail in Covington. Although it was expanded in the 1980s, the jail is overcrowded and has prompted a federal lawsuit from inmates.
Mr. Arlinghaus said two Covington city commissioners have asked to meet with two members of fiscal court to discuss possible jail sites. "Is it possible to get with the city of Covington and . . . take the hurry up, rush attitude away from this?" asked Mr. Arlinghaus. Mr. Cain bristled at the suggestion.
"I take offense to your statement about being in a hurry," Mr. Cain said. "We have not taken a vote, and I've taken all calls on this issue. Doing nothing is not what I call working on it."
Deputy judge-executive George Neack said he met twice last week with Covington city staff to discuss possible jail sites. However, he said he was unable to reach them Tuesday to discuss their latest thoughts.
About 40 percent of the Kenton County Jail's prisoners result from arrests by Covington police, Mr. Cain said. That number is down from 47 percent in 1990.
While the percentage of arrests in Covington is dropping, the number of arrests is going up in other parts of the county, Mr. Cain said.
