Scioto County Commissioner Bryan Davis tried to ease the fears of Franklin Furnace residents, who were fearing an influx of hundreds of criminals into their community after the State of Ohio chose to close a facility in Athens and transfer the residents to Star Justice Center in Franklin Furnace.
Davis said the state hadn’t informed the commissioners about their decision, but he’d done some digging. “It’s a total of 19 individuals moved from Athens to our Star facility in Franklin Furnace. It’s the equivalent of a heavy week, for sure. That’s how many they take in in a month. So these are not large numbers.”
Davis also said some employees of the Athens facility were offered jobs in Franklin Furnace, and some of them accepted the positions.
“I think the rumors that hundreds of criminals are coming to our community, that’s overblown. I don’t know the exact background of everyone coming, but it’s no different than what is there now.”
Davis said the state could have decided to close the Franklin Furnace facility and move everyone to Athens. “We’ve been victims of that before when they shut down Ohio River Valley and the boys’ prison.”
He said he’d also suggested that the center’s director have a conversation with the trustees of Green Township to discuss their concerns that the number of facilities in the area was taxing their fire and EMS services. “Don’t be alarmed. I think we’re okay. I understand it’s a sensitive issue. A lot of people are not real happy with the proliferation of rehabs and things like that in the area. It’s a hot-button issue.”
Commissioner Scottie Powell said, “I think sometimes people forget what we truly have in our scope as commissioners.”
