Additional Columbiana County prosecutor approved

LISBON -- State and federal funding for low-income families will be used to pay salary and benefits for an additional prosecuting attorney.
Columbiana County commissioners approved a contract Wednesday between job and family services and the prosecutor's office. The contract is for a maximum of $75,000 through June 30, 2005.
Elaine Dray-Bardon, job and family services director, said there is only one prosecutor assigned to the juvenile court, and with the caseload of juvenile court, additional assistance is needed.
She said because the juvenile court is so busy, sometimes the one juvenile prosecutor would have only about 15 minutes before a hearing to discuss the case with children services staff.
She said job and family services has been cited for contempt of court in juvenile court because without adequate time to gather information, prosecutors were not prepared to present their cases.
"This will strengthen the prosecutor's presence in juvenile court," Dray-Bardon said. "Most of all, it will strengthen our ability to protect children."
The prosecutor's salary will be $54,000. With retirement and other benefits, the total compensation will be $67,729, Dray-Bardon said.
"We are trying this for two years and when the funding is no longer available, we will look for other ways to fund this position," she said.
"If this is found to be incredibly valuable, we will find a way to fund it."