News from January
20, 2005 issue
Regional
jail concept almost dead
The regional jail concept so close to reality only a few months
ago seems to have hit the same old snag a political turf
battle.
A group of leaders from Crittenden and Livingston counties met
Tuesday night in Smithland to discuss ways to keep the vision
of a dual-county jail alive. However, when it comes to location,
neither side seems ready to budge and it appears that the idea
could be on its death bed.
"It looks like we have come to an impasse, so we've gathered
here to see if we can work through some of these issues,"
Livingston Judge-Executive Chris Lasher said as he called the
meeting to order at the Livingston County Courthouse.
Magistrates from both counties and Salem City Council members
made up most of the nearly two dozen people at the gathering.
All of the leaders seemed to agree that changing regulations and
rising costs were almost certain to put both counties out of the
jail business in the next five years unless something is done.
Both have what the state considers "life safety" jails,
and there are not too many left. Regulations and costs are slowly
squeezing them out. New, modern jails are capable of keeping Class
D felony offenders the lower-risk, state inmates which the
Department of Corrections pays counties to house. From a revenue
standpoint, keeping those types of inmates is necessary for operating
a jail in the future.
Local leaders also seem to agree that neither county is in position
to build its own jail because of the estimated $5.7 million price
tag for a 150-bed facility, and the annual operating costs that
would be well over $1 million.
Right now, the sticking point appears to be a change of heart
from Livingston County, which a few months ago appeared ready
to put the jail in Marion.
Although county officials from both areas admit nothing was "written
in stone," as Crittenden Magistrate Greg West described it;
they generally accepted the argument that Marion was going to
be the site. At least until Salem leaders stepped in wanting it
there. Salem council members say it makes more sense to build
the jail in the small town near the county line because it has
five acres of donated land and it's geographically nearer the
center between the two courthouses.
When Salem entered the picture, it created what most now consider
a political stalemate with neither side willing to give in. Crittenden
officials say they've already purchased the land next to the current
jail and have made plans for building it in Marion. Livingston
officials say Salem is now the most logical place.
"We're willing to meet you half way," said Livingston
Magistrate Jerry Deatherage of Joy.
Livingston magistrates Joe O'Bryan of Grand Rivers and Terry Stringer
of Ledbetter concurred.
"I wish you would take this to the people of Crittenden County
and see if they are willing to meet halfway," O'Bryan told
Crittenden County Judge-Executive Fred Brown.
Brown said he didn't think the Crittenden Fiscal Court would ever
approve of putting the jail in Salem after it has already bought
lots in Marion for the proposed facility.
"What if we put it in the edge of Crittenden County, across
the county line from Salem?" asked Livingston Magistrate
Ivus Crouch.
"I don't know," Brown replied, giving some hint of a
potential for compromise. "I will have to go back to our
fiscal court and we can discuss that."
Brown said Crittenden magistrates will meet at 8 a.m., Friday
in special session at the courthouse in Marion to further discuss
the regional jail issue.
New
Marion Cafe opening March 1
Development a new downtown restaurant is the plan for the former
Hunt's Department Store, according to owner Thom Hawthorne.
The Marion Cafe will open March 1 for breakfast and lunch and
will eventually start serving dinner. Glenn Conger, a former owner
of The Coffee Shop, will run the new restaurant, said Hawthorne.
"Glenn will bring a lot of experience to the kitchen,"
Hawthorne said, pointing out that Conger is currently a manager
at Patti's 1880s Settlement in Grand Rivers and has also managed
Ruby Tuesdays in Paducah and Cracker Barrel in Nashville.
The new restaurant will seat 100 people and all of the kitchen
operations will be conducted next door at Thom's Sweet Shoppe.
The Sweet Shoppe, in the former City Drug building, has specialized
in lunches and desserts. Hawthorne said hours would likely be
expanded when the Marion Cafe opens because the two would compliment
one another for dinner crowds.
"We'll still have the ice cream and desserts at the Sweet
Shoppe," he said.
The new restaurant will feature a complete menu and will specialize
in blackened steaks.
"We'll have an antique decor kind of like Cracker Barrel,"
Hawthorne said. "I've got all that kind of stuff to hang
on the walls."
A restaurant also named Marion Cafe once operated down the street
on the next block, but it closed down in the late 1970s.
Flooding update: Water
still troubling
Chad and Ashley Thomas have one means of transportation when they
leave their rural Crittenden County home for work.
An ATV.
The couple, who live in the Hebron community, are trapped by the
swollen Crooked Creek which now covers Hebron Church Road on both
sides of their house.
For a week now, the Thomases have had to drive their 4-wheeler
through a field to get to their vehicles parked safely on high
ground the other side of the flooded roadway.
The Thomases aren't the only Crittenden Countians inconvenienced
by high water.
The Cave In Rock Ferry remained closed Wednesday, as well as state
highways Ky. 91, Ky. 135 and Ky. 387.
At least 18 county roads remained closed or impassable Wednesday
morning.
Superintendent Donnie Beavers would discuss
details of the proposal, each citing a need for confidentially
because of ongoing price negotiations.
Barber did tell the council that he has "not been happy with
the response," to a price offer previously made for buying
about about 10 million gallons of water a year from the county
water district.
He said a consultant would be in Marion this week to look over
Marion's purification plant and to discuss alternatives, such
as renovating the plant.
The Division of Water has been pressing the city to reach 100
percent compliance with current state water standards. Barber
said state and regional agencies are encouraging the city and
Crittenden-Livingston Water District to reach an agreement so
Marion's plant can be shut down. Costly upgrades would be necessary
for the city's plant to reach compliance despite that fact that
it was just renovated about 10 years ago at a cost over $1 million.
AREA ROAD
CLOSINGS
IN CRITTENDEN
Cool Springs Road
Enon Church Road
Weston Road
Providence Road
Phin Croft Road
Barnett Chapell Rd.
E-town Landing Rd.
Blackford Road
Water Street in Tolu
River Road in Tolu
Monroe Wesmoland Rd.
Claylick Creek Road
Baker Hollow Road
Long Branch Road
Charlie May Road
Dycus Road in D'Burg
Aunt Jane Tabernacle Rd.
Hebron Church Road
Dam 50 Road (Ky. 387)
IN LIVINSTON
Haddox Ferry Rd.
Fred Tracy Rd.
Scotts Chapel Rd.
Vaughn Rd.
Van Hoosier Rd.
Black Bottom Rd.
Smithland Dam Rd.
Rudd Spees Rd.
Cobb Rd.
Lewis Rd.
Jack Walker Rd.
Grove Chapel Rd.
Sugar Camp Rd.
Hurley Rd.
Chipps Rd.
Lemon Landing Rd.
Head Rd.
State highway closings
Ky. 135 at Sawmill Hollow in Crittenden
Ky. 91 N at Ohio River in Crittenden
Ky. 137, Ky. 133 & Ky. 917 in Livingston