Officials in Grant County have reversed course and decided to keep the jail open after finding out that it would cost more to close the facility.
The Fiscal Court passed a resolution in July to close the jail, which has been plaguedby inmate lawsuits, personnel lawsuits, prisoner escapes and maintenance issues for more than a decade. The resolution called for shuttering the facility by October.
The Kentucky Enquirer reportsthat magistrates voted this week to rescind the resolution and keep the facility open.
Judge-Executive Steve Wood says nearby counties were charging a hefty price — as much as $66 per prisoner per day — to take inmates.
Wood says officials estimated it would cost about $2 million annually to house inmates in other facilities compared to $700,000 to keep the current jail open.