Lucas County residents concerned about how a new jail would affect the safety, property values and perception of a South Toledo neighborhood packed a small meeting room Monday, demanding answers from their elected officials.
It was standing room only at the public forum inside the Reynolds Corners Branch Library. Community group Lucas County Citizens Against the Neighborhood Jail Proposal hosted the meeting, at which most in attendance protested a plan to build a 650-bed jail and a state-funded 150-bed community-based correctional facility on 30 acres on Angola Road. Lucas County Commissioners Tina Skeldon Wozniak, Carol Contrada, and Pete Gerken, and Sheriff John Tharp were on-hand to answer questions.
“I’m not opposed to a new jail, I’m just opposed to it being in my back yard,” resident Albert Earl said. “I understand that we all need safety, and safety is very important. But building it in a community that has so many children, surrounded by so many schools, for me, that don’t make a lot of sense.”
County officials this month announced a $357,025 purchase agreement for three parcels on Angola Road, just west of South Byrne Road. A new facility there would to replace the aging nine-story county jail at Spielbusch Avenue in downtown Toledo.
“We need a jail. I’m telling you, that place is a cesspool,” Sheriff Tharp said, citing a leaking roof, broken pipes, and faulty elevators.
Commissioners hope taxpayers will finance the construction and operations of the $145 million jail with a 1.9-mill property tax levy, up for a vote in November. Part of the levy — 1.08 mills — will fund remain on the books only long enough to pay off construction debt, county officials said.
The other 0.82 mills would stay in place to pay for the jail’s operations. An owner of a $100,000 home would pay an additional $66.50 in annual property taxes if voters approve the measure.
Mr. Gerken told those in attendance that if the levy fails, the jail will still be built, funded with money from a 0.25-percent sales tax approved in 1992 for public safety expenses. That funding currently helps pay for the EMS operations across Lucas County.
“For 25 years we’ve helped the city of Toledo, Sylvania, Oregon, Maumee pay for their EMS systems,” Mr. Gerken said. “We won’t be able to do that.”
Officials said it would cost more than $60 million to renovate the existing jail. They added the Angola Road site was the best choice in terms of price, space, and the ability to construct buffers between the jail and the neighborhoods.
Citizens questioned why their leaders would construct a jail within a mile of nine schools, citing safety concerns. Several said they don’t believe having a jail in their neighborhood sends the right message to their kids.
The proposal requires Toledo City Council rezone the site. The project must also obtain a special-use permit before it can move forward.
Contact Sarah Elms at selms@theblade.com, 419-724-6103 or on Twitter @BySarahElms.
First Published August 1, 2017, 4:00 a.m.
