INDEPENDENCE - After a year of debate, Kenton County officials have decided against building a jail on a controversial site in Independence.

• Comment: What do you think of Fiscal Court's decision

This morning, Kenton County Fiscal Court unanimously approved a resolution to build a new detention center on a site off Mary Laidley Drive in south Covington.

County officials said Monday morning that they received an extremely favorable engineering report on the site, which helped them make their decision.

That vote is contingent upon several factors, including receiving favorable reports on environmental and soil compaction testing. The county has yet to acquire an option on the site. In the past, they've said they've been willing to consider condemnation if they could not agree upon a purchase price.

It was exactly one year ago today that county officials announced they were buying land for a $40 million jail that would sit on a 25.6-acre site off new Ky. 17 and south of Pelly Road near subdivisions, schools and day care centers. Within a day, opposition surfaced to the site. Opponents filed suit to stop construction and organized petition drives and protests.

This morning, Independence attorney Eric Deters, who led much of the protest against the Independence site, announced plans to drop the lawsuit filed on behalf of 264 taxpayers.

Deters characterized the fiscal court's action as "a great Christmas present to the community."

He singled out Kenton County Judge-executive Ralph Drees for being willing to work with the community on the issue.

"For him to change his mind and change course - it's commendable," Deters said.