Menallen property could replace Dunbar for prison site
It appears that Fayette County may consider a possible alternative site for the new prison.
Jim Killinger, architectural leader of the county Prison Working Group, said Wednesday that a Menallen Township property is now on the table for consideration should the decision to use the Dunbar Township fairgrounds property be abandoned by the county.
“While the (county) fair board is supportive of the county moving forward with construction of a new jail, the membership appears not to want it built next to the fairgrounds,” said Killinger. “I am not involved in any of the conversations, but that is what I am hearing.”
The 77-acre fairgrounds property was chosen from nearly 20 sites scrutinized by the architectural team for suitability and approved as the new $30 million prison site location by the majority of commissioners in October.
While centrally located within the county, some criticized the property’s close proximity to the Dunbar Borough Elementary School. The property is owned by the county and leased to the fair board.
The proposed plan included the subdivision of the property to set aside about 30 acres of the 77 acres for the prison construction.
Killinger speculated that the county could proceed with the construction with or without the fair board’s approval but said that if it would result in legal action, the overall project would be delayed.
The plan is to have the 480-bed prison operational by December 2015.
As he was learning of the lack of support for the Dunbar Township location, Killinger said that he was approached by a Menallen Township supervisor asking why the county had not considered locating the prison in the municipality.
After doing some research, Killinger said that he found a 120-acre parcel that was owned by the county and located off New Salem Road.
“It is a great piece of property,” he said. “It is close to the courthouse but, unfortunately, not centrally located within the county, but it could fit the county’s needs.”
Killinger said that a neighboring property owner leases the acreage to grow corn and is responsible for its maintenance.
After learning of its availability, Killinger said the site was visited by architectural team co-chairman Jim Custer and Commissioner Al Ambrosini.
“It is one more viable property for our list should we not be able to build at the fairgrounds,” he said.
Since selecting the Dunbar Township site, the county has moved forward with designing the new prison building and preparing permit documents.
Crabtree, Rohrbaugh and Associates of Mechanicsburg and Sleighter Engineering Inc. of Uniontown have been hired by the county to oversee the design phase of the project.
Last month, municipal and county officials met to discuss sewerage needs at the Dunbar Township property after being advised that the current sanitation system or a planned expansion could not accommodate the prison needs.
Widmer Engineering Inc. representatives advised the county that it would cost about $1.5 million to expand the infrastructure. The Connellsville firm is the engineering company for the Dunbar Borough/Township Sanitation Authority that services the area where the prison is to be built.
Killinger, meanwhile, said that Crabtree and Sleighter are gathering information but have yet to invest time, materials or equipment to obtain a sewerage permit.
A local and state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) permit must be obtained before a construction building permit can be acquired from the county.
“There is no reason to spend taxpayer dollars until we are sure that is where it is going to be built,” said Killinger.
A tentative timetable for the project has the construction documents ready for contractors by May and construction to begin by July.
“We’re still on track,” said Killinger. “I would anticipate having a final decision after the first of the year.”
Killinger said that a contract with Steve Neubauer, too, should be in place by mid-January to allow work to begin on the temporary women’s annex.
Neubauer has given his verbal consent for the county to use an Iowa Street property for the housing of about 50 female inmates until the new prison is built. However, an agreement has yet to be inked.
Killinger speculated that the two sides have yet to iron out a monthly rental fee and to decide which party will be responsible for any repairs to the cooling or heating system should there be a malfunction during the two-year lease agreement.
At a commissioner agenda meeting on Tuesday, Ambrosini said that he anticipated having a contract from Neubauer for review when they meet in regular session Dec. 17.
When questioned by Commissioner Angela M. Zimmerlink as to a rental cost, Ambrosini said that he had yet to receive any lease terms from Neubauer.
After the meeting, Zimmerlink said that in the 2014 budget for the prison, Warden Brian Miller noted a $2,500 lease cost for the property.
“I don’t know that any (lease cost) has been discussed,” said Killinger.
Crabtree and Sleighter have presented a design plan for the remodeling of the interior of the Iowa Street property, he added. However, no estimate of the cost for the work was included.
Ambrosini has estimated the cost to be about $100,000 but also did not rule out that the price tag could reach $300,000.
The annex was secured to ease overall out-of-county housing costs that have exceeded $1 million this year.
Killinger, meanwhile, said Sleighter is also working on a sewerage plan for the annex that must be approved by the City of Uniontown and the DEP.
While some questions have been raised about the zoning for the annex, Killinger said that the Iowa Street property has the same zoning designation as the current prison.
Killinger said that the working group will discuss the matters at its Dec. 19 meeting.