‘Take it off the list’ – Menallen supervisors say ‘no’ to new prison
MENALLEN TWP. — “Take it off the list.”
That’s the message from township Supervisors Joe Petrucci and John Yantko to Fayette County Commission Chairman Al Ambrosini, the Prison Working Group and any other person who believes that property is available within Menallen Township for the construction of a new prison.
“That is not what we as supervisors or our residents want for the township,” said the two long-time officials. “That is not a part of the plan.”
The supervisors were reacting to information that a 120-acre, county-owned parcel located within the township boundaries was being considered as a potential alternate site for the prison should the current Dunbar Township property be abandoned.
On Wednesday, Jim Killinger, prison working group architectural team leader, had revealed that Ambrosini and other working group members had visited the site located off New Salem Road and found it to meet the criteria for the construction of the 480-bed new prison should it be needed.
“We added it to the list of possible sites,” said Killinger, adding that the generated list has 18 potential sites for the prison location.
Killinger and other working group members compiled the listing over the past year. In September, the top three sites, including a 30-acre portion of the 77-acre Dunbar Township fairground property, a parcel of property at the Joseph A. Hardy/Connellsville Airport, also in Dunbar Township, and a privately owned property in Georges Township were considered by the Prison Board, with the fairgrounds property recommended for the construction. A majority of the commissioners voted to proceed with the construction at the recommended site.
Killinger said that he became aware of the Menallen Township property after having an informal conversation with Menallen Township Supervisor Robert “Tweety” Yatsko, who during the brief discussion revealed that having the prison located in the municipality could be of some benefit.
“It was nice to have a township be supportive of having the prison there,” said Killinger.
However, Yatsko said Thursday that he did mention the availability of property but did not indicate he would support locating the prison within the municipality.
“I thought it might bring jobs,” he said. “But, I’m only one supervisor. We work together out here, and if the other two (Petrucci and Yantko) or my constituents didn’t want it, I certainly wouldn’t be for it.”
Yatsko said that he advised Killinger to sit down with the supervisors and discuss the matter and was surprised to learn the property was being considered as an optional site.
Petrucci and Yantko, meanwhile, said that they were unaware of Yatsko’s conversation with Killinger until Thursday morning.
“He (Yatsko) might be in favor of it, but we are not,” said Petrucci as Yantko offered a nod in support.
The two said that several years ago, officials and residents worked together to devise a comprehensive plan and implement a local planning and zoning board to guide the township as it develops.
The municipality, located adjacent to South Union Township where new businesses are opening at a fast pace and within short driving distances of several major roadways, Menallen Township is poised to serve as a “bedroom” or residential community, said the supervisors.
“We have sewage in 90 percent of the existing homes, and everyone has water,” said Petrucci. “Now, we are working on getting natural gas service lines.”
The 120-acre county-owned parcel is now zoned by the township as country/woodlands/residential and with the designation does not allow for the construction of a prison facility.
“There is not going to be a new prison built on that property,” said Petrucci. “I will never vote to change the zoning.”
Yantko, too, said that he would not take any steps to offer the county an exemption or special exception to allow for construction of a prison.
“There are performance standards, such as setback lines that would not allow it to be constructed on that property,” said Yanko, adding that a power line crosses the property and the adjacent right of way would restrict construction.
The new zoning ordinance does offer appropriate places for a prison within the 26-square-mile municipality, as required, but restrictions would prohibit construction, he added.
The in-place comprehensive plan will remain intact, said Petrucci.
“This is what our citizens wanted the township to look like, and that’s how it will stay,” he said.
Yantko said that there would be little benefit to the township if the prison was built, speculating that property values would diminish by 25 percent.
“We’re not going to get a real estate tax, it would be exempt,” he said. “We won’t get any earned income tax from the workers because few, if any, live in Menallen Township. So, maybe we might get the LST (Local Services Tax).
“For maybe $5,000 a year we’ll build a new prison here; I don’t think so.”
Petrucci said that there are too many disadvantages to consider changing course in the township.
“It will not be built here,” he said.