Thursday, July 08, 1999
3 sites left in Kenton jail search
County explores privatization
BY CINDY SCHROEDER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
INDEPENDENCE — Kenton County officials have dropped a potential jail site on Richardson Road from consideration, because it's too small, and they have opted against renovating the existing jail, because it's too expensive.
Three jail sites remain under consideration.
County officials hope to decide within 30 days where to build a new jail, said Scott Kimmich, Kenton County's deputy judge-executive.
Kenton County officials also are weighing the benefits of privatization, and they plan to visit a privately run jail in Indianapolis within the next two weeks, Mr. Kimmich said. County officials have said that the multistory jail in downtown Covington needs to be replaced, because it is inefficient and crowded.
On Tuesday, the Kenton Fiscal Court authorized further environmental assessments of two of the three remaining jail sites:
• The former DeCoursey
Yards in Taylor Mill, bordered by the Licking River on the east.
• The 3L site at Interstate 275 and Ky. 17 in Covington.
Further environmental study is not required at the prospective jail site within the Northern Kentucky Industrial Park, west of Foundation Road in Elsmere, Mr. Kimmich said.
Close to a decision
“Realistically, we're about 30 days from a final decision,” Mr. Kimmich said Wednesday.
“Once we get the environmental assessments back, then the fiscal court will have to sit down, and make the tough call.”
If the court decides to build a new jail on either the DeCoursey or the 3L site, a new bridge will be needed, Mr. Kimmich said.
And if county officials should decide to build a bridge over the Licking River, connecting Taylor Mill to the AA Highway, they will need to discuss that prospect, as well as infrastructure issues, with representatives of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
“We would need to resolve questions, such as where to build a bridge, how much it would cost, and who pays the bill,” Mr. Kimmich said.
County officials chose not to renovate the existing jail, after learning Tuesday that it would cost about $54 million to do so, or twice the cost of developing any of the three leading jail sites.
“To renovate (the county administration building,) we would have to vacate everyone during the construction, including the existing jail,” Mr. Kimmich said.
Glaser Associates of Cincinnati also said that the project would require the removal of exterior walls, and the demolition of much of the building's interior.
A private jail?
A potential jail site northwest of the Ky. 17 and Richardson Road intersection, was ruled out because it was “a very narrow site,” said Kenton County Commissioner Barb Black.
“Even though it did fit, it was a very tight fit,” she said.
Wherever the jail is built, Kenton County officials are continuing to study the feasibility of privatization.
Last month, Kenton County officials visited a privately run jail in Nashville, Tenn., that is operated by the same company as the one in Indianapolis.
“The facility we visited had 1,200 inmates and operated for $6 million a year,” Mrs. Black said.
She said Kenton County's Jail costs $5 million a year, and generally holds more than 300 inmates.
Consultants have recommended that Kenton County build a one- to two-story, 576-bed jail.
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