STRUTHERS, Ohio - The City of Struthers plans to shut down its jail instead of making all the improvements needed to keep it on operation.

Mayor Terry Stocker sent a letter to the Ohio Bureau of Adult Detention informing them that the city jail will be closed as of November 1.

A recently completed audit showed that major improvements must be made at the jail to keep it open, or even to meet minimum standards as a temporary holding facility.

Those requirements would include adding a communication system between inmates and staff, as well as training employees to recognize signs that someone may be suicidal.

An inmate hanged himself at the jail and died in September of last year.

The mayor says even utilizing a pay-to-stay policy at the jail has been a break even operation.

After taking into consideration operational challenges, financial cost and legal liabilities associated with running the city jail properly, the mayor says the city has decided to begin housing inmates in the Mahoning County jail.