November 18, 1998
Cuyahoga County Jail may send prisoners here
By Jefferson Wolfe
Staff Writer
The Seneca County Jail soon could be recieving prisoners from Cuyahoga County, if an agreement can be completed.
Seneca County Sheriff H. Weldin Neff said he spoke with Jane L. Campbell, president of the Cuyahoga County Commissioners, and Cuyahoga County Sheriff Gerald T. McFaul Tuesday during the Buckeye Sheriff's Annual Training Convention in Cleveland.
Neff said McFaul is empowered to make decisions regarding out-of-county prisoner housing. He said McFaul took pertinent details about Seneca County's jail and plans to have the Cuyahoga County jail administer contact Seneca County later this week.
''His attituude was very positive,'' Neff said. ''He is definitely looking for a place to house prisoners.''
It is posssible that Cuyahoga County may be able to use all of the current space in the Seneca County Jail, he said.
The Seneca County Jail receives money by housing out-of-county prisoners. Until recently, the Seneca County Jail had been receiving Lorain County prisoners, but that county built its own county jail. Seneca County is facing a possible $200,000-250,000 decrease in jail revenue.
If all goes well, the jail could be receiving prisoners soon.
''At this point, I would be hopeful it could happen within the month yet,'' Neff said.
Cuyahoga County has been housing prisoners in Columbiana County, which is southeast of Cleveland, Neff said. Seneca County and Columbiana County are about equidistant from Cuyahoga County.
Neff said the jails' prices are comparable.
The sheriff said he had not spoken with the Seneca County Commissioners yet. They visited Toledo Monday afternoon to discuss with officials there the possibility of housing Toledo prisoners in the Seneca County Jail.
County Commissioner Kenneth Estep said he was hopeful he would hear from Toledo within two weeks, but there had been no firm agreement.
''We're going to go with whoever gets there first,'' Neff said.