The City will be leasing a jail cell exclusively to the City of Berea. The City leases a limited number of jail cell beds on an exclusive basis to other governmental subdivisions and/or law enforcement agencies for fixed terms.
City Council unanimously adopted legislation at the November 16 meeting, allowing Mayor Larry Antoskiewicz to enter into a lease agreement with the City of Berea for the exclusive right to the possession of one jail cell bed for the term of three months. The lease shall be in effect from January 1, 2022 through March 31, 2022 and may be renewed by mutual agreement. Berea shall pay North Royalton $14,000, payable monthly, for the lease. North Royalton will provide standard jail services, including meals, exercise and 24/7 oversight.
The North Royalton Jail is located in the North Royalton Police Department facility, which is located at the corner of Bennett and Royalton Roads. The jail houses up to 18 full-time male and female prisoners and serves about nineteen communities who do not have access to their own jail.
Antoskiewicz said he was hoping for a longer term agreement, but understands that with current bail reform, the City of Berea wanted to see how it would affect their jail requirements. He said that Berea normally utilizes the Strongsville jail, but due to some availability issues, they started to look elsewhere for availability, possibly shifting completely to North Royalton. Antoskiewicz also said that there has been some interest from other cities as well.
This long-term lease is a part of the City’s effort to manage jail costs, which continues to be studied by the Jail Task Force Committee. The fact-finding commission is studying the workings of the jail and provides the information to City Council. The committee consists of Matt Stuczynski, a Municipal Advisor, Ward 2 Council Representative Linda Barath and North Royalton Police Department Jail Administrator, Marty Toukonen. Antoskiewicz said they will provide facts and information, not recommendations.
“My commitment continues to be to keep the jail open, but find other ways to reduce the deficit,” said Antoskiewicz. “That’s the way I’ve looked at it ever since I backed off. . . we need to reduce the costs” We are looking at all of our options. Of the cost, I have to get that number down.”
By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer