As first-half goals come to fruition, the Schuylkill County commissioners face new challenges as they enter the third year of their terms.
Several infrastructure projects that were early goals are now nearing completion and are being funded through the $21 million bond the board issued toward the end of their first year together in October 2012.
"Obviously, one of the those goals was the narrowbanding project," commissioners Chairman Frank J. Staudenmeier said Wednesday. "With the cooperation of everyone involved, I think it has gone very well."
The narrowbanding of the 911 communications system was the most expensive of those infrastructure projects. The Federal Communications Commission mandated the updates to narrowband the radio frequencies and allow the emergency communications to accommodate more radios while improving transmission quality and creating additional options, such as signal encryption for police and other emergency personnel.
Motorola Solutions Inc. made the improvements for $16 million and final testing is expected to be completed in June.
Another goal that was also funded by the bond was the acquisition of the former Empire Beauty School in downtown Pottsville.
"I've heard it over all the years that I've been here - we really need more space," Staudenmeier said. "I think we accomplished one of those goals by acquiring the Empire building."
The board acquired the property at 324 N. Centre St. just across the street from its Human Services Complex in December 2012 through eminent domain for $740,000. The board has not yet decided which county departments will be moving into the 21,000-square-foot property with three floors, but the move will also allow the county to end leases with other buildings that house the Drug and Alcohol and Mental Health and Development Services departments and the office of District Magisterial Judge James K. Reiley.
Commissioner George F. Halcovage Jr. also said the board helped the only tenant in the building, Telecommunications on Demand, find a new location in the city.
"The goal, in the long term, is to be able save money for the taxpayer, and I truly believe that in the long run, that happened, is happening and will happen," Halcovage said. "Also, I'm very happy we were able to assist a tenant that was in that building and they are now striving in another building located in the city. We kept someone here who was able to go somewhere else."
The other projects being funded through the grant were two roof replacements. A new roof was installed at the Schuylkill County Communications Center for about $100,000 while the county is currently seeking bids for the project to start at the prison.
"One of the big things the three of us rolled out in our first two years was the Youth Summit," Commissioner Gary J. Hess said. "We said it throughout all our campaigns that youth is our most important asset and they are our future."
Hess and Kay Jones, executive director of Schuylkill County's VISION, spearheaded the first youth summit in March 2013 along with the other commissioners and community organizations, legislative offices and business associations with the goal of encouraging students to make the changes they want to see in their communities. The second event has been tentatively scheduled for March 20.
"We wanted to bring young people to the table and hopefully engage them," Hess said. "I couldn't be happier with how this has panned out."
The next items on the agenda for the commissioners in 2014 concern overpopulation at the prison and the county-operated nursing home, Rest Haven.
"Two of the biggest budget items in the county is the prison and Rest Haven," Staudenmeier said. "One of them is moving in the right direction while the other is moving in the wrong direction."
Over the last couple years, the inmate population has exceeded the prison's suggested capacity of 240. In 2013, the average inmate population for the year was 303 and the prison board considered building additional space at the facility.
However, numbers have steadily declined since the board introduced a pre-release program in October. The program is similar to parole, but uses stricter monitoring.
The average inmate population for December was 265, its lowest mark in at least two years, and an expansion project at the facility seems to have been put on the back burner.
"We are very pleased with the decline and hope it continues," Staudenmeier said. "We want to try and stay away from any brick and mortar programs until we see how this goes."
Halcovage took over as chairman of the prison board in January after President Judge William E. Baldwin declined a nomination to resume the position.
Meanwhile, the county had to allocate $1 million from the general fund to Rest Haven Nursing Home and Rehabilitation within the last month in addition to a $500,000 loan in August 2013. In 2011, the board allocated $300,000 to the facility and another $355,415 in 2012. Before that, there has not been an allocation since 2004.
"Not a day goes by that we don't discuss (Rest Haven and the prison)," Staudenemeier said.
As the board tries to figure out the situation at Rest Haven and face other challenges, the Democrat and two Republicans stressed the importance of communication and working together as they finish their terms.
"In the last two years, probably the most gratifying comment I received is that they appreciate how well this board of commissioners and row officers work together," Staudenmeier said. "That's what it's all about. It's OK to disagree, but as long as we do it in a professional manner. It's just a very good working relationship."
Hess, the lone Democrat, also talked about the commissioners' working relationship.
"We didn't agree on certain issues, but we like to agree on what is best and that is working for the citizens of Schuylkill County every day to move this county forward," Hess said.