Portune/Pepper officially ask for gov's help

We noted awhile back that Commissioner Todd Portune was seeking Governor Ted Strickland's support on several local projects including the renting of jail space in Kentucky.



Well Wednesday he and Commissioner David Pepper put those requests in writing in the form of a resolution.


In it, the pair ask for Strickland's help on the Comprehensive Safety Plan. Specifically they asked for


-help making it legal to house overflow inmates in the cheaper Kentucky jails
-$25 million to help build the new jail


-support for state legislation that would allow minor criminal records to be expunged after seven years in certain cases


-money to support the River City Correctional Facility


-a third Juvenile Court judge.


Read the press release here.


That last item was a little touchy. Commissioner Pat DeWine voted against it because he said the judges weren't asked about it and don't want a third judge, based on his conversations with judges.


"They think it would increase costs. Portune said he's heard differently," DeWine said. "I think before we do something that would cost the county treasury more money. I think we should have at least asked them to weigh in on it."


Portune said he'd had discussions with them in the past and had heard differently.

Anyway, the measure passed. It can't hurt, and who knows, it might even help.