OREGON, OH (Toledo News Now) - Officials in Lucas County want to explore what it would take to build a new county jail, and members of the Oregon City Council voted Monday to support their mission.
Oregon city council members discussed and passed a resolution on Monday, Feb. 25 that supports the idea of Lucas County commissioners and the sheriff's office submitting a grant for funding.
"Oregon, at the end of the day, has an interest in making sure our taxpayers aren't paying any more for support of an operation that they do now, and we think that would be a positive step," said Oregon City Administrator Mike Beazley.
That funding would pay for a preliminary study - just to determine the feasibility of replacing the Lucas County Correctional Facility.
Lucas County officials are asking local cities to weigh-in on the matter. If the surrounding communities support the study, the changes of the county receiving the grant money will increase.
The current county jail opened in 1977, and some feel it's too outdated to officially handle prisoners. The new Lucas County Sheriff John Tharp has made a new jail his top priority.
