The Schuylkill County Prison Board is further exploring the possibility of constructing a temporary housing facility inside one of the prison courtyards as inmate population continues to be an issue.
"We are not saying let's do it, we are saying let's explore it," said President Judge and prison board Chairman William E. Baldwin, during the monthly prison board meeting Wednesday.
As of Wednesday morning, Warden Eugene Berdanier said the inmate population was 293, including 49 women. According to the warden's monthly report during the meeting, the average for June was 306, peaking at 310 on June 6 and 7.
The suggested capacity for the prison is 240.
After last month's meeting, Baldwin said Proteus On-Demand Facilities LLC, Austell, Ga., had contacted the county and proposed building a temporary structure. He also said having the structure in the courtyard would allow the county to continue existing medical and food programs.
The prison has two exercising yards, but Baldwin said only one can be used at any given time due to security concerns so eliminating one of them would not interfere with prison operations.
When the proposal was first heard, Baldwin said the idea was to use the temporary structure to house female inmates and free up 24 beds for males.
On Wednesday, Baldwin said that has changed as the prison is primarily used for male housing. According to monthly reports, the average female inmate population has been in the 40s for five of the last six months.
"I think it would give us a lot better management of the male population," Baldwin said of the temporary structure. Baldwin also said the board will be looking into the possibility of the structure having three individual cells for people taken into custody in the middle of the night. He said it would speed up the arraignment process, keeping the accused person's time at the prison to a minimum.
It was unclear during the meeting whether or not the county was required to open such a project for bidding. The issue was going to be looked into.
Berdanier also said he was researching a potential processing/booking fee for all new commitments as a way to generate revenue for the county.
"Several county jails and prisons have been doing this for a number of years with great success," Berdanier said. "I will collect my information and make a formal proposal at a future meeting."
Also during the meeting, Berdanier provided updates on several maintenance concerns.
He said both showers in the work release area have been closed for weeks after it was determined that it was not safe due to unstable floor support. The floor area around the shower and floor boards have water damage. The county public works office has been soliciting quotes for repairs. Until the repairs are made, work release inmates are showering in the booking and search rooms
"We are working to remedy this problem as quickly as we can," Berdanier said.
Maintenance crews have also been working on the main front door locks. Berdanier said United Prison Equipment, Green Lane, recommended installing a new lock on the door to cover the old section since repairing it may be costly due to the age of the door and parts.
"This door is our only means of regular traffic in and out of jail," Berdanier said. "General business traffic should not use the security gate unless an emergency so repairing or replacing the front door lock should be a priority."