Portage has spent $305,000 as jail
population increases
As Portage County officials begin to look at the need for an expansion of the county jail, costs to improve security at the 17-year-old facility have topped $305,000 in the past year.
Most recently, the Portage County commissioners accepted a bid of $38,038 from Brust Sheet Metal to extend railing on the second floor mezzanine of the six-inmate pod areas to within six inches from the ceilings.
Commissioners also approved, in principal, $20,848 for another 10 video cameras with audio. Commissioners have agreed to look at another $20,848 for cameras when they can work them into the budget.
The changes began after five jail inmates died in an 18-month period, including three who committed suicide between July 2010 and October 2011.
Overcrowding at the jail has been an issue for some time. In September 2012, Sheriff David Doak wrote commissioners that "we have seen tremendous growth with our inmate population," especially among females.
-- Mike Sever, Record-Courier
Development Board
promotes manufacturing among youth
The Portage Development Board is teaming up with a northeast Ohio alliance of manufacturers to promote careers in manufacturing among young students.
Brad Ehrhart, president of the PDB, said the group has joined with the Alliance for Working Together, a Mentor-based nonprofit started in 2002 by a small group of manufacturing company presidents and CEOs when manufacturers realized that retirements by the baby boomer generation would mean losing a skilled manufacturing workforce.
The National Association of Manufacturers said in 2012 that 81 percent of American manufacturers said their biggest problem is finding qualified workers.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were 8,788 people county residents employed in manufacturing, and 238 establishments engaged in manufacturing. Most of those employed fewer than 100 people.
Ehrhart said the PDB and AWT will work to recruit Portage County manufacturers to promote careers in manufacturing through activities such as the annual RoboBots competition and tours of plants in Portage by seventh- and eighth-grade students.
-- Mike Sever, Record-Courier
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