In a last-ditch effort to keep the Ohio River Valley Juvenile Correctional Facility from closing, local officials and center employees will meet with state officials in Columbus today.

Lawrence County Commissioners Les Boggs and Bill Pratt, Ironton Mayor Rich Blankenship and state Rep. Terry Johnson, along with employees from the juvenile center and officials from Scioto County, will meet this afternoon with representatives from the Ohio Department of Youth Services, which oversees the center.

Following that meeting, a smaller meeting will take place between Gov. John Kasich, Johnson and employees from the juvenile center.

The Department of Youth Services announced in March its plans to close the facility in September due to budget cuts. Kasich’s budget calls for $41 million reduction in funding for the department over the next two years. Closing the facility would save more than $20 million a year, department officials said.

Declining population is another reason that’s been offered for the center’s proposed closure.

As a whole, the department’s population has declined from an average of 1,800 in 2007 to around 700 currently, DYS spokeswoman Kim Persell said Friday.

“I think it’s important to note that (while) we share the concerns of residents regarding the loss of jobs, the proposed budget and declining population make (closing the facility) a necessary measure,” Persell said.

Lawrence County officials are hoping to convince Kasich otherwise.

“I think this is our opportunity to express our concerns and give facts directly to Governor Kasich and hopefully overturn that decision and keep those residents employed and ORV open,” Blankenship said.

He added that he wanted Kasich to make an informed decision about whether or not to close the facility.

Boggs said the leaders are hoping to make the argument that ORV is the best and most efficient juvenile center.

“If I thought it was a lost cause I wouldn’t be going up, but that’s not a decision we can make,” Boggs said. “It’s up to the governor. I don’t know what he’s going to say.”

Boggs said he thinks an answer from Kasich will come soon after the meeting, though he does not know what that answer may be.

“Our hearts feel for the families of those who could potentially lose their jobs and we want our constituents to know we’re fighting until the end to keep it open,” Boggs said.

Johnson declined to comment on the meeting due to the sensitive nature.

Johnson’s legislative aide, Scott Evans said Johnson’s office “remains 100 percent behind the employees in an attempt to keep that facility open not only for our area but for ORV employees.”

Calls to Kasich’s office were not returned as of press time.