County Chair letter to Senator Turner and Representative Butler
 

[August 20, 2021] 

August 17, 2021

Dear Senator Turner and Representative Butler,

I am writing on behalf of the Logan County Board to address deficiencies that are said to exist at the Logan Correctional Center. These include, but are not limited to, plumbing, electrical, structural, and other areas related to the health of the residents and staff alike. We would encourage further programs to improve outcomes, humanize living conditions, decrease the risks to staff, and reduce recidivism.

The above topic was brought to our attention by Gary Davis, a highly respected and engaged local citizen of our community. It was also the subject of a featured editorial in the July 28th, 2021 edition in The Pantagraph, which Mr. Davis shared with our members. We value the jobs and appreciate the huge economic impact this facility, as well as, Lincoln Correctional has on Logan County. However, we recognize that these positions on a long-term basis are dependent on necessity and outcomes, which in turn are directly tied to contemporizing both infrastructure and oversight.

We fully recognize that this is a state issue and the county doesn’t have much input. With that having been said, if we were host to a major airport, harbor, state park or recreational facility, military base, public university, or other hub of such activity, that appeared in need of critical funding and modernization, we would certainly be encouraging our legislators to bring this topic to the attention of their colleagues. In this case, it is not just a matter of commerce and jobs, but also the future of over 2,000 residents who live there. They are all females, many are minorities, and a large percentage are relatively young people with the potential of a productive and satisfying life still ahead of them. We believe that any investment made in both the facility and the quality of life of its residents will come back to the state many times over in the years to come.

Thank you for your consideration of our thoughts.

Respectfully,
Emily Davenport
Chairman, Logan County Board