Warren County to move road to make room for $50 million jail

Warren County commissioners have decided to spend an estimated $1 million moving a road to make room for the new jail in Lebanon to be built just more than 400 feet from a public school.

Renderings displayed during today’s work session indicated the $50 million jail and sheriff’s office is to be completed 417 feet from Donovan Elementary School on land currently straddling Justice Drive in the county government complex.

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A stretch of Justice Drive running between Cook Road and East Avenue would be moved west, up to the property line for the school.

While relocating the jail, the project would not leave it much farther from the school than it currently is, as part of a building housing the county courts and sheriff’s office, as well as the current jail.

“In reality, you’re talking about a long par-five from the current jail,” Commissioner Dave Young said.

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The decision came after the commissioners ruled out moving the jail out of Lebanon next to prisons off Ohio 63.

The commissioners never even revisited moving the jail to land off Markey Road on the edge of Lebanon, abandoned after opposition was raised in May.

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They also ruled out building a five-story jail on a smaller piece of land in the complex, due to projections this would cost $600,000 a year more to operate than a single-story facility.

In addition, the commissioners opted not to build the jail next to the current facility due to higher projected costs - $1 million to $2 million- to move the county’s facilities management buildings to make room.

County Administrator Tiffany Zindel said she had spoken with Lebanon school officials about the plan.

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