Last week, Coal Region Canary filed a formal Right to Know request with Schuylkill County government seeking records dating back to 2008 on a firm contracted to do preliminary work on a proposed pre-release prison.
We recently reported on a proposed contract extension with Crabtree Rohrbaugh & Associates. This firm is supposed to be conducting a site option analysis plan for a proposed pre-release prison for Schuylkill County.
We learned that this firm has been working with the County government – in an on-and-off manner – since at least 2008. And to date, there’s no prison, no firm plans for a prison, and no concrete plans that have ever been made public about a potential facility.
And in that time, the cost of a proposed pre-release prison has only grown exponentially, with Commissioners Chairman Larry Padora suggesting to us last week that a facility, if it were built today, cost cost $26 million just in bricks and mortar.
Now, the County has been utilizing this firm – again, not consecutively – for at least 16 years. But nothing has been made public regarding the results of its findings. So, we want to know what, exactly, Crabtree Rohrbaugh & Associates has produced for us and what it has cost us for their services in that time.
The Right to Know request filed with the Schuylkill County Solicitor on May 2 seeks the following information:
- All invoices sent from Crabtree Rohrbaugh & Associates, of Mechanicsburg, to Schuylkill County, dating back to January 2008, as they relate to the proposed Intermediate Punishment Center.
- + All proofs of payment of those invoices from Schuylkill County to Crabtree Rohrbaugh & Associates.
- Full text of all written and approved contracts between Schuylkill County and Crabtree Rohrbaugh & Associates since 2008.
- + Full text of any and all reports meant to fulfill these contracts filed by Crabtree Rohrbaugh & Associates with Schuylkill County.
- Any emails, letters, memos, or other communications between Crabtree Rohrbaugh & Associates and Schuylkill County officials regarding the proposed Intermediate Punishment Center.
- Record of any amendments or extensions to the original contracts with Crabtree Rohrbaugh & Associates dating back to 2008, if applicable.
The County has 5 business days from the receipt of our RTK request to respond it writing to it. It can either grant the request, deny it, or invoke its right to a 30-calendar day extension respond.
We fully expect, based on the complexity of our request, that the County will invoke that right to a 30-day extension to respond.
Subscribe to Coal Region Canary
Get email updates from Coal Region Canary by becoming a subscriber today. Just enter your email address below to get started!Support Coal Region Canary
Like our reporting and want to support truly local news in Schuylkill County? Your small donations help. For as little as $5, your contribution will allow us to cover more news that directly affects you. Consider donating today by hitting the big yellow button below ...
Melinda
May 7, 2024 at 9:09 am
Keep us posted! It shouldn’t take 30 days to answer certain elements of your request- the actual contract(s), any amendments, paid invoices should be readily available from Controller Yackenchick. There should be a file in the Commissioners Office area regarding the Intermediate Punishment Center or Pre-Release Center with reports and some communications. Perhaps Gary Bender and/or Paul Buber can provide. The emails may take some time, but that shouldn’t delay your entire RTK. Good Luck!
lorraine koury
May 7, 2024 at 12:13 pm
give em hell! we really need investigative reporting on all levels of government and i’m glad we have you shining lights.
PTFloridian
May 14, 2024 at 7:17 am
Sounds like a classic case of palm greasing, from way back… someone might know someone…stay on it Canary, you’re the best.