Legality of new borrowing plan is challenged

The legality to a new plan for borrowing money to keep the county solvent until tax monies start arriving in March, was challenged by county controller Melinda Kantner at the work session held by the Schuylkill County Commissioners Wednesday at the courthouse in Pottsville.

The commissioners' fiscal staff presented the plan for approval at next week's public commissioners' meeting. Paul Buber, fiscal officer, reported the county's general fund is down to $1 million and explained the plan calls for borrowing $2.5 million from the county's Department Service Fund to be repaid on or before June 30. Normally the county would borrow a tax and revenue anticipation loan from a local bank. Buber said the county could save $29,000 in interest payments.

Kantner said this is illegal, claiming the Department Service Fund can only be used to pay off debts such as bond issues and monies from the fund cannot be used for general purposes.

County solicitor Eric Mika disagreed, claiming he checked with the bond attorneys and they said the procedure was legal. Kantner also claimed the county has a certificate of deposit in the amount of $5 million which it could redeem and be used to pay bills from the general funds until collections from real estate tax revenue start coming in a few weeks. Buber said the reason he does not advise redeeming the CD is because the county received a good interest rate when it purchased the CD and would lose it. Buber reported the county receives $5,200 in interest per month from the CD.

Not one shovel

Minority Commissioner Frank Staudenmeier said he would not approve one shovel of dirt be moved to start construction of a pre-release prison until he learns of the cost involved. The proposed facility is to be built adjoining the existing state correctional institution in Ryan Township, bordering the borough of Frackville.

For the first time President Judge William E. Baldwin, who serves as president of the Schuylkill County Prison Board and is the chief proponent for building the pre-release center, agreed. Baldwin said if the cost exceeds the limit fixed, he would scrap the plan. Staudenmeier, while he was chairman of the board of commissioners, refused to approve the prison project, seeking alternatives and even hiring a consulting firm to come up with plans. It was not until the current board of commissioners took office that the plan has been placed into action.

Commissioner Francis McAndrew reported the Department of Agriculture is expected to act in the next few days on the commissioners' request for a loan of $4.4 million toward the cost of construction of the pre-release prison. The repayment of the loan would be over a 40-year period at a low interest rate. The construction will depend on bids received for building a one-story, barracks-style building to house 120 people. It will be constructed of building blocks with cement floors and will house non-violent inmates who are eligible for work release, so they would only be spending nights in the facility and go to work daily.

Baldwin also said the county would save on medical health expenses because currently they have to pay PrimeCare Medical Medical Inc., of Harrisburg, a fee for each prisoner in the current county prison. There would be no medical costs for those housed in the pre-release prison.

John Richmond, chief adult probation officer, received approval to post a public notice pertaining to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection planning module which provides sewage facilities planning for the proposed pre-releasse prison. Public comment will be invited. The notice will be available for review in the office of the county planning commission, which is located in the courthouse.

Richmond reported the prepared sewage planning module provides for the county installing its own sewage lines. He also reported discussions continue between the county, Department of General Services (DGS), Frackville Area Municipal Authority (FAMA) and Department of Corrections (DOC) to convey ownership of the sewer lines to FAMA, which would substantially decrease the cost to the county.

Voter polling sites

Seven new polling places were approved by the commissioners, which were needed because of the consolidation of the precincts ordered by the county court.

West Penn Township Voters in District Number 2 will vote at Saint Peter's Church's Social Hall, 184 S. Peters Rd.; voters in District 3 will vote at the West Penn Elementary Building, 185 School Drive, New Ringgold. Voters of District 1 will continue to vote at the municipal building.

Schuylkill Township Voters of the township's lone voting place will be located at the MaryD Fire Company building, 85 Walnut St., MaryD.

North Manheim Township District Number 1 will vote at the Schuylkill County Agricultural Center, 1201 Agricultural Center Drive.

Wayne Township Voters in District 3 will vote at the municipal building, 10 Municipal Rd.

Upper Mahantongo Township Voters from the Klingerstown District will vote at the Salem Church of Rough and Ready, 11 Church Rd., Klingerstown.

Saint Clair Borough Voters in the North Precinct will vote in the basement of Saint Clare of Assisi, Mill and Hancock sts.

Seek new costs

County engineer Lisa Mahall proposed approval of the fee schedule for the subdivision and land development ordinance to be revised to include for the NPDES/Stormwater Consistency Review at $300 noting that the review fee will be at the actual cost. If cost is greater than $300 the applicant must pay additional cost before the consistency letter is released. If cost is less than $300 the remainder will be refunded.

Also approval is sought to enter into an agreement with WJP Engineers, Pottsville, to provide storm-water consistency reviews for subdivisions requiring such reviews and to extend the contract of WJP Engineers to continue to provide professional engineering services to review subdivision plans at Eagle Rock Resorts in North Union and East Union townships.

The commissioners reviewed the recommendation for promotion of Melissas Hanlon, Barnesville, to become the county casework supervisor with the Children and Youth Services Agency and the hiring of Christina Guy, Tamaqua, as an aging care manager 2 with the office of Senior Services. Action will be taken at next week's public meeting.