Fayette County commissioners to consider women’s annex alternatives
Fayette County commissioners appear poised to seek proposals from other property owners interested in leasing or selling their property to the county for the purpose of housing female inmates.
In unanimous action, the commissioners agreed on Tuesday to place the item on Tuesday’s agenda for further discussion and approval.
The commissioners additionally agreed to assess whether county-owned buildings could be considered for prison annex locations.
The move to look at other sites comes two months after the county entered into discussions with Gallatin Capital Partners Inc. (GCP), owners of 32 Iowa St. in Uniontown, to rent or buy the property, but have yet to reach an agreement.
“We need to look beyond Iowa Street,” said Commissioner Vincent Zapotosky in supporting the measure be moved to next week’s agenda. “We need to look at reducing costs.”
Recently, commission Chairman Al Ambrosini said that modifications to the Iowa Street building had escalated in cost and he was willing to consider other properties while negotiations continued with Uniontown businessman Steve Neubauer, GCP president.
“It is not off the table,” Ambrosini said Tuesday.
According to Ambrosini, state Department of Corrections representatives have visited the building and offered its recommendations to meet state guidelines, including the installation of a sprinkler system, security doors and window coverings and placement of security cameras, among other improvements.
Initially, Ambrosini speculated that the costs would not exceed $100,000. However, as the design for the modifications proceeded, it was found that the costs have now increased to about $350,000.
To structure the request-for-proposal advertisement, Commissioner Angela M. Zimmerlink asked that the DOC modification recommendations and Crabtree, Rohrbaugh and Associates building specifications be turned over to her.
The information would be used to outline the specifications in any subsequent request for proposals, Zimmerlink added.
The Mechanicsburg architectural firm, along with Sleighter Engineering Inc. of Uniontown, have been retained by the county to design the renovation of the Iowa Street building and the new prison.
Zimmerlink pointed out that she had previously requested that the information and other documents related to the planned annex be turned over to her, but have yet to receive them.
“I need the documents so that I can review them,” she said. “Somebody has to have the modifications (for the proposed annex). Crabtree has apparently prepared a site plan and modifications for Iowa Street. So who has them?”
Ambrosini responded that the specifications for the Iowa Street building may not be applicable to another site, except the general needs, such as a single-story building that can accommodate a dormitory living-style for about 50 women.
“Each building is going to be different and be modified according to our needs and DOC requirements,” he said.
Ambrosini said that the consideration of other buildings is fiscally prudent.
“The entire process is tied to economics. How we can save money.” he said.
As to the location of the documents Zimmerlink is seeking, Ambrosini said that he does not have them in his office to provide copies to Zimmerlink, nor does he want a copy.
“We have hired an engineering and architectural firm to handle those duties,” he said. “If I have a question, I’ll call and ask. I do not need reams and reams of paper of documents sitting around my office.”
Zapotosky, meanwhile, said that it is in the best interest of the county to look for alternative sites and did not rule out the possibility of purchasing property.
“When you consider the monthly cost, interior modification costs and then the cost to return it to its original state, you have nothing to show for the (county investment),” he said. “The purchase of a building would allow it to be used for other purposes.”