The Athens County Commissioners are calling for changes to a new policy that requires regional jails to help the state of Ohio house inmates charged with fourth and fifth degree felonies.
Fourth and fifth degree felonies include crimes such as drug offenses, breaking and entering or unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
The commissioners oppose the change because the state does not compensate the county for housing the additional inmates.
"The state wants to put more (inmates) in our regional jails so the community bears the cost and not the state," Commissioner Lenny Eliason said.
Athens County Commissioners Chairman Charlie Adkins will travel to Columbus later this month with Athens County Sheriff Rodney Smith to attend a state Justice and Public Safety Committee meeting to suggest other options.
In addition to authorizing the trip to Columbus, the commissioners also approved a letter to the United States Department of Agriculture endorsing Shagbark Seed & Mill's application for a federal grant.
Shagbark, a business that provides organic ingredients for restaurants, including some in uptown Athens, as well as Athens City Schools, is requesting a grant from the USDA to focus on projects that demonstrate value and building opportunities for farms, according to a previous Post report.
Brandon Jaeger, co-owner of Shagbark, first met with the county commissioners last month to present the letter he proposed the commissioners could send to the USDA.
