Warden: Schuylkill prison needs repairs

As if the cost of transporting inmates to other county jails wasn’t expensive enough, the Schuylkill County Prison Board learned that the county jail is in dire need of expensive repairs.

Prison Warden Eugene Berdanier discussed a punch list of needed repairs, including the difficulty in getting plumbing parts for the sink/toilet combination units. According to the manufacturer, those units are no longer available.

President Judge William E. Baldwin, who chairs the board, told Berdanier that he should build funds into the 2020 budget to replace those units as they fail, as parts will no longer be available to repair them.

Berdanier also detailed needed repairs to a washing machine, which has rusted completely from its frame. Quotes are being requested to have the machine anchored to the floor, using a welded angle iron. Another rust problem involves anchors, which hold the razor barbed wire around the perimeter of the facility. Quotes are also being requested for those repairs, Berdanier said.

According to the population report, the peak census in September was 265, with the peak female census at 70.

The average number of outsourced inmates was 83. Currently, 81 inmates are outsourced in other county jail facilities, which include Centre (53), Columbia (2), Northumberland (16) and Snyder (10).

Under public participation, the Rev. Vincent Murray and Annette Riggs, Open Arms Ministry, talked about programs the organization offers, which include peer counseling and structured, supervised transitional assisted living.

Open Arms Ministry currently offers such housing at a location in the Bunker Hill section of Pottsville.

Murray said Open Arms has recently acquired additional properties in the county, which he hopes to open early next year after renovations.