The good news is Butler County has enough money to pay to finish the new county prison.

The bad news is legal suits about the prison could linger for years.

At this morning's county prison board meeting, county Controller Jack McMillin said the remaining $2.9 million in borrowed funds should be enough to pay for the remaining bills on the $43.1 million prison.

However, county solicitor Julie Graham said discussions involving possible settlements to ongoing lawsuits weren't fruitful.

She said the county has laid out plans to work on these lawsuits for three years.

The lawsuits were precipitated by former general contractor A.G. Cullen's termination of its contract in December 2007.

The Pittsburgh company left the South Washington Street job site citing a payment dispute with the county. It subsequently sued the county in common pleas court, eventually seeking $3.8 million.

Also, Cullen's insurer, Travelers Casualty & Surety, sued Cullen and the county.