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By JENNIFER LEARN-ANDES [email protected]
Tuesday, January 25, 2005 Page: 1A
A proposed design for a brand-new $62 million prison was unveiled Monday,
but Luzerne County commissioners don’t plan to do much with it until they
receive a different proposal to renovate and expand the existing prison.
L. Robert Kimball & Associates, the architectural/engineering firm handling
the design for the 1,040-bed facility, expects it will take until March to
complete a plan to somehow reuse the Water Street jail.
The firm has identified parcels adjacent to the existing facility that
might be used to expand the jail to 1,040 beds. Demolition of some neighboring
buildings would be needed, but county officials didn’t speculate on which
ones.
“My initial reaction is it would probably be better if you do two separate
facilities, maybe not even attached,” said Csaba S. Balazs, Kimbal &
Associates’ senior vice president, during the commissioners’ work session.
Commissioners want to look at reusing the existing space as an option
because they don’t know if they can secure the funding to build an all-new
prison.
The $62 million does not include “soft costs” such as design fees, a
contingency allowance, site survey and other costs that could add as much as
25 percent to construction costs, the proposal says.
Site acquisition costs must also be tacked on, and the plan calls for a
34-acre parcel.
Commissioners were visibly impressed with the new, modern design. Warden
Gene Fischi pointed out that each block has its own exercise unit.
Prisoners would have to be moved from their blocks only for court
appearances or medical visits, Kimball representatives say.
The company describes the facility as “horizontal,” although there are
two floors of cells. The multistory Water Street prison is considered a
vertical facility.
In general, horizontal facilities are cheaper to staff and operate, Kimball
representatives said Monday.
Commissioner Greg Skrepenak pointed out the county could opt to build fewer
cells under a more flexible horizontal design. The county prison averaged 696
inmates last year.
For instance, eliminating a 32-cell unit, which houses 64, from the complex
would save between $2 million and $2.5 million, the company said.
Commissioner Todd Vonderheid said he’d like to explore the possibility of
partnering with a neighboring county if it turns out that new construction is
the only feasible option.
Kimball representatives said there aren’t any other regional county prisons
in the state, and splitting up costs can be tricky.
In other business Monday, commissioners said they plan to vote tomorrow:
To honor a 1986 court order that had granted an assessment reduction to
Revel Railroad Inc., care of Greco Holdings, for a property at 33 Wilkes-Barre
Blvd., Wilkes-Barre. It means the county must forgive $13,091 in outstanding
county back taxes owed on the property.
To seek requests-for-proposals on sites to temporarily house a new central
court because permanent space is unavailable in the courthouse. Jim Torbik,
who oversees the program, said he needs space to start the program June 1, and
requested between 3,500 and 4,500 square feet.
Awarding a contract to a company to analyze operations at Valley Crest
Nursing Home. Several companies responded to a request-for-proposals.
Jennifer Learn-Andes, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at
831-7333.