INDEPENDENCE — After considering dozens of proposed jail sites during the past two years, Kenton Fiscal Court members say they support a $27.3 million expansion and renovation of the jail in downtown Covington.

        Next Tuesday, the fiscal court is expected to endorse an architect's concept that calls for adding 62,000 square feet to the county administration building at 303 Court St. where the jail is now housed. The site was among 10 in Covington under consideration.

        Unlike the renovation of the jail in the mid-1980s, the project would not convert existing offices into jail cells, county officials said. Instead, It calls for building a tower to the west of the 10-story building so adequate space is provided to meet the needs of the prisoners and the adjacent community.

        The move would end-run many citizens' strong opposition to locating a new jail near their homes and workplaces.

        “By developing a new security envelope, while remaining within the property boundaries of the existing county building, it is my personal belief we can achieve positive results for the community without creating terror in our neighborhoods and substantially increasing the transportation costs of inmates,” Kenton Judge-executive Dick Murgatroyd told the fiscal court.

        Mr. Murgatroyd said construction could begin by early next fall.

        Besides asking for county officials' endorsement of the concept next Tuesday, Mr. Murgatroyd said he will seek authorization to solicit architectural proposals.

        He also will ask the fiscal court to approve $500,000 to help Southbank Partners and Covington develop the adjacent Park Place Square pedestrian park.

        Mr. Murgatroyd said the plan would resolve the years-old controversy of where to build a jail without displacing residents or acquiring costly or commercially viable property. The plan would not increase the cost of transporting prisoners to and from the courthouse.

        Rick Axline, the criminal justice architect who presented the concept, cautioned that “it is not cast in stone,” but is meant to be used as a starting point, as the county addresses its corrections needs.

        On Tuesday, Mr. Axline and David Blodgett, the county's corrections consultant, presented the concept to focus groups, including the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Forward Quest, the Covington Business Council, the commonwealth attorney-elect, Southbank Partners, the jail advisory commission, and the Kenton County jailer and his staff.

        Commissioner Dan Humpert rated Tuesday's presentation as “A-plus.” He said he was pleased that the jail would be close to the courts, as other successful jails are in cities that county officials have visited.

        Commissioner Barb Black said she was pleased that no residents would be displaced, that there are no environmental problems with the site, and that taxpayers' dollars would be wisely spent. She also was pleased that the jail would be close to the justice center and that the appearance of the county administration building would be improved as part of the project.

        Commissioner Adam Koenig said he was pleased with the innovative concept, but added he would feel more comfortable if a few more beds could be added to ensure that the jail meets the county's future needs.

        Mr. Blodgett has recommended that the jail be built large enough to house 500 prisoners. Most of those would be minimum-security prisoners, with many of the state prisoners gradually phased out as space is needed for county prisoners.

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