An update on the status of the Euclid jail being run by Cuyahoga County was presented to Euclid City Council’s Safety Committee meeting Wednesday night.
‘We are working on an agreement with the county,’ Euclid’s mayor, Bill Cervenik said, emphasizing that the contracts are being reviewed by the city and county law departments.
Last year, the city intended to reconstruct the city jail, creating a ‘dormitory layout’ and reducing the cost to the city.
However, in June, the county expressed interest in operating the jail.
‘What we have been working with the county on … is that the city of Euclid will pay a certain fee for the housing of our prisoners on an annual basis,’ Cervenik said.
‘It will not be a dollar amount that changes continually with the number of prisoners, rather an average of the number of city prisoners we hold.’
That estimated amount would be between $500,000 and $600,000 for a full year of housing prisoners with the county operating the jail.
‘This will take us out of the jail operations and save us estimated over $1.3 million,’ Cervenik said. ‘This will allow us up to 25 prisoners to be held at the facility.’
In 2013, the city was paying over $1.5 million to run the jail.
‘The other part of the equation is that although the county will be operating our jail, there are close to $1 million in capital improvements and repairs that need to be done to that facility,’ he said. ‘We are looking at, and it’s not final yet, most likely assuming 50 percent of the cost of those capital improvements, but they will be paid for over five years. That works out to about $120,000 a year for the first five years.’
The city will pay for the improvements through the general fund.
After the initial repairs, the county will assume all other maintenance of the facility, and the city will be in charge of the parking lot, as it connects with the police department, Cervenik said.
Right now, about $740,000 has been budgeted by the city to operate the jail until March 31, until contracts can be negotiated, and for the county to take over operations.
‘The county needs our facility and we would like to get out of the jail business,’ Cervenik said.
Corrections officers working at the jail will be encouraged to apply for a position under the county.
Cervenik said he hopes the contracts can be reviewed at an executive and finance committee meeting on Feb. 10, and for the first reading of these contracts at city council on Feb. 17. Dates are tentative.
