BY CASEY KOZLOWSKI
President
Ashtabula County Board of Commissioners
Hello, Ashtabula County!
I wanted to take a moment this week to share another update on the ongoing work related to the Ashtabula County Public Safety Center project. This project is one of my top priorities over the coming months and years as we work to see it through to completion.
The new Public Safety Center will be an addition to the existing Sheriff’s Office in Jefferson, our county seat. The facility will connect directly to the current Sheriff’s Office and the courthouse annex and will be located just north of the current jail. Construction will take place on the site of the current employee parking lot, and additional nearby property will be acquired to replace the parking spaces that will be lost.
At this time, the planned facility is approximately 55,000 square feet and is designed to house around 219 beds in a 1.5-story mezzanine-style layout. These figures may change as we complete the final design and receive updated cost estimates prior to the project going out to bid. The project is currently in the design phase, which is expected to take about six months. During this period, the Sheriff’s Office, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, the County Commissioners, our architect, and other partners will work together to finalize the design, size, and overall scope of the facility.
Once the design phase is complete and all necessary approvals are in place, the project will be advertised for public bid, allowing any qualified contractor to submit a proposal. This is anticipated to occur around the middle of this year. After bids are reviewed and a contractor is selected, construction can begin. The construction phase is expected to take approximately two to three years, though timelines may adjust based on a variety of factors.
Going back to parking, we recognize that parking is already a challenge in the courthouse area and that this project will add to that need. To address this, we have taken several steps to expand parking options.
We have secured a lot across the street from the courthouse, behind Community First Credit Union and a nearby law office, which will be used for staff parking. We are also expanding parking at the Public Defender’s Office (the former KeyBank building), planning to lease additional spaces from a local business, and exploring other potential sites. More information on parking enhancements will be shared as the project continues to move forward.
Keeping you informed is very important to me and to the entire Board of County Commissioners. We have created a dedicated webpage where you can follow the project’s progress at www.ashtabulacounty.us/publicsafetycenter. There, you can view scheduled meetings, access updated project information, learn more about financing, review the FAQ sheet, submit questions, and more. The page will continue to be updated as new information becomes available.
We also plan to hold additional public informational meetings where residents can view design plans and renderings as they are developed. We hosted a meeting on Jan. 5, and I appreciate everyone who took the time to attend and share their thoughts.
This project has been a long time coming and is greatly needed in Ashtabula County. I’m encouraged by the progress being made and look forward to continuing this work. I hope you’ll stay engaged as we move ahead.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can attend a meeting, speak with me when you see me in the community, or call me directly at 440-576-3750. Thank you.
