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Commissioners to authorize next phase of prison project

By Patty Yauger pyauger@heraldstandard.Com 4 min read

A majority of Fayette County commissioners are poised to hire an Elizabeth firm to conduct a geo-technical survey of the area being considered for the expansion of the county lockup.

In 2-1 vote action on Tuesday, Commissioners Vince Zapotosky and Angela M. Zimmerlink agreed to consider the hiring of Geo Mechanics Inc. when the board meets in regular session April 21.

Commissioner Al Ambrosini voted no to advance the item to the agenda.

The survey is to determine the physical characteristics of the soil and rock structures on the county-owned property adjacent to the prison and courthouse as the county moves forward with the expansion and renovation of the 126-year-old prison.

Last year, Zapotosky and Zimmerlink embarked on the expansion/renovation project and hired Astorino/CannonDesign of Pittsburgh in January to oversee the preliminary architectural and engineering design of the project at a cost of $185,000.

In February, K2 Engineering Inc. of Uniontown was hired to determine the property boundary lines and location of utility lines on the site at a cost of $21,200.

Following the meeting on Tuesday, Zimmerlink speculated that the property survey had yet to be completed as she has not seen a finished product.

“I think we’re moving kind of fast considering we only started in November and there has been snow,” she said.

Zimmerlink said that Astorino/CannonDesign has not provided any preliminary designs or cost estimates for consideration by the commissioners.

“How could you do anything like that if you don’t have (the surveys completed)?” she said. “I wish we could have had this done a lot quicker, but we’ve had some bad weather.”

It was not clear how soon the geo-technical survey would be completed.

In related action, Zapotosky and Zimmerlink agreed to consider the extension of the contract with Astorino/CannonDesign for an additional 60 days until an American Institute of Architects (AIA) standard contract is reached with the firm.

Following the meeting, Ambrosini said that he will continue to oppose the current project because it is “a waste of taxpayer money.”

“There are four or five studies that have been done in connection with the prison and none…not one, recommend the rehabilitation of the prison,” he said. “When did Zimmerlink and Zapotosky come to know more than the experts?

“It would be better to do nothing than do something wrong.”

In August, Zapotosky, who along with Ambrosini had for more than two years supported the construction of a new prison, joined with Zimmerlink to halt its progress.

Since, Zapotosky and Zimmerlink have pursued the expansion of the correctional facility and its renovation.

Turning to other business, Alcohol Anonymous representatives Ron Cahall and Tom Conlon approached the board on Tuesday to advise the officials that the organization would like to re-establish regular meetings within the prison.

“You have it on your website that there is meetings going on, but there isn’t,” said Cahall, the AA Area 60 corrections coordinator. “It is a free service that costs you nothing.

“I understand the (female inmates) haven’t had a meeting in four years and that’s a disgrace.”

Conlon, a Fayette County resident, tied the lack of routine meetings to a lack of communication between the organization and the prison.

“We call the warden and get (deputy warden) Barry Croftcheck,” said Conlon. “We get to Rev. (Terry) Sanders, (prison chaplain) and Rev. Sanders will not let us in.

“He is the only one we’ve been able to speak to and he won’t let us in.”

When contacted after the meeting, Sanders said that the organization has contacted him and like other groups that offer services, they were advised to follow the protocol to conduct meetings.

“We promote recovery,” said Sanders, adding that many groups have offered services to the inmates.

AA has conducted meetings at the Genesis House, a nonprofit, faith-based halfway house for men that have served their sentence or for those they are court-ordered to live at the facility, added Sanders.

The protocol includes background checks and other clearances required by the state Department of Corrections of those providing services or programs within the prison.

Cahall and Conlon said that they plan to address the commissioners again at the April 21 meeting and the prison board at its April 29 meeting.

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