The ball is in Gov. John Kasich’s court concerning the next action to be taken in the projected closing of the Ohio River Valley Juvenile Correctional Facility in Franklin Furnace.

State Rep. Dr. Terry Johnson and two employees met with representatives from the Department of Youth Services on Monday, where the DYS tried to justify their decision to close ORV, Johnson aide Scott Evans said. Johnson and the ORV employees then met with Kasich for about a half-hour.

“The bottom line is, at this point, we had a meeting and we don’t know the end of it,” Evans said. “If you were to ask DYS they would tell you the decision is made — it stands, that’s that. We took it to the next level of appeal, the only place we could go (Kasich).”

The DYS announced March 16 the ORV facility would close Sept. 10, which would result in the loss of more than 300 jobs.

In May, Johnson challenged Kasich to meet with him (Johnson) and several ORV employees. Monday’s meeting Monday was the result of that challenge.

Evans said he asked Johnson if Kasich committed to come back with an answer after reading the appeal.

“He (Johnson) said, ‘yes, but he didn’t commit to when,’” Evans said. “So we will get to a finality here — either what we want or what we don’t want — but it is supposed to be coming.”

Kasich aide Rob Nichols said Johnson’s assessment of the meeting was correct.

“He (Kasich) will be reviewing it in short order and as quickly as possible,” Nichols said.

FRANK LEWIS may be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 232, or flewis@heartlandpublications.com.