GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio — Cuyahoga County council members debated passionately ahead of an 8-3 vote to approve the purchase of 72 acres of vacant land for a new county jail.
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"Let's just not vote. If we really want to hear statistics about what this is going to cost, go to committee, but for some reason, we don't want to hear the truth," said District 11 Councilwoman Sunny Simon.
Simon, who represents Euclid, wanted the council to stop the vote and consider another proposed location for the jail at Kirby Avenue and Eddy Road. Simon said the council had ordered a study for that site, too.
Simon said the Garfield Heights location is out of the way for law enforcement, court proceedings, and other resources.
"Cleveland, Euclid, law enforcement now will have to take at least 2 officers off the road every day to drive detainees to Garfield through 77 and 480, every day," said Simon.
As News 5 previously reported, in 2018, the U.S. Marshals released a report on the Cuyahoga County Jail, calling it one of the worst in the country. It cited understaffing, overcrowding, and inhumane conditions.
"We need a facility that is more humane, and we have an opportunity to do that," said District 8 Council President Pernel Jones Jr.
The 72 acres in Garfield Heights has been sitting vacant for 14 years and doesn't need any cleanup before the build, according to Garfield Heights Mayor Matt Burke.
"It's large enough to build what we need in the future, and that may be a multitude of buildings and a central service campus that really has the wrap-around services that people need in addition to the jail," said Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne.
Burke said the facility could bring in jobs. "Very excited to see what county executive Ronayne wants to put there because he's talked about mental health facilities. You've heard about diversion programs," he said.
Before ground breaks, the council still has to approve a funding source for the new facility.
"We are going to start planning today," said Ronayne.
The County Council will now look at funding plans like the sales use tax in committee as a whole meeting.
RELATED: Community meeting held in Garfield Heights to discuss proposed Cuyahoga County Jail
