Vandalized Ohio Juvenile Center Sprinklers Will Cost $1M to Repair

Officials in northeast Ohio say it will cost nearly $1 million dollars to replace vandalized sprinklers at a county juvenile justice center.

The Northeast Ohio Media Group reports Cuyahoga County officials have proposed borrowing more than $966,000 to replace sprinklers at its juvenile justice center. Children have triggered the sprinklers by striking them with shoes or other hard objects, causing $29,000 in water damage between October 2011 and February 2013.The sprinklers are marketed as being resistant to vandalism.

The sprinkler expense was one item on a list of center renovations totaling $168 million presented to county council Monday.

The $189 million detention center, opened in 2011. The center has drawn criticism since its opening for its expensive furnishings, costly repairs in its first year and rarely-used courtrooms.