Lawmakers courting state prison for German Township
A $200 million state prison that would employ approximately 750 people could be coming to German Township, House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese confirmed Friday in a meeting with the Herald-Standard editorial board. DeWeese, D-Waynesburg, said the German Township site – off Route 21 in back of the Lardin House restaurant near Masontown – is “one of the premiere sites under consideration.” If the site is selected, DeWeese said it would be because of a “combined effort,” including state Sen. Richard A. Kasunic, D-Dunbar, and the local House delegation.
DeWeese said that he, Kasunic, and state Reps. Timothy S. Mahoney, D-South Union Twp., and Deberah Kula, D-North Union Twp., met earlier Friday to discuss the county’s prospects for landing the facility.
DeWeese said he believes Gov. Ed Rendell is looking to build two more state prisons before his second term ends in January 2011. A decision on the two new sites could be made by this summer, before the state budget is adopted.
DeWeese said it was his understanding that six sites are being considered, including several near where state prisons that have already been built.
Money for the facilities could be appropriated as part of the upcoming 2008-09 state budget, said DeWeese, who noted that the prison would have a “bonanza effect” in terms of securing water and sewerage in that area of the township.
DeWeese said he hopes that the new prison could also help revitalize Masontown.
Mahoney, who accompanied DeWeese to the editorial board session, said the prison would also pave the way for faster upgrades to Route 21, including a new Masontown Bridge.
DeWeese said while it’s premature to make an announcement, he “would hope” one could be forthcoming before the state budget is approved. The deadline for that is June 30.
“We have spoken with the Rendell administration on a number of occasions,” DeWeese said. “There’s certainly no commitment except that the German Township site is one of the premier sites that the commonwealth is taking a look at.”
If the prison is approved for German Township, it would be the third such facility to be built in DeWeese’s district, joining SCI-Greene near Waynesburg and SCI-Fayette in Luzerne Township.
Officials from the state’s corrections department couldn’t be reached for comment.