The current water and sewer systems at the proposed site of the ICE detention center in Tremont Township can’t handle what the federal government is planning, according to Schuylkill County Commissioner Larry Padora.
Padora says he’s spoken with Schuylkill County Municipal Authority and confirmed that the infrastructure in place doesn’t have the capacity to handle what ICE is proposing for the former Big Lots warehouse.
“What is the plan to address this,” Padora asked rhetorically as he listed several of his and the County’s primary concerns over the ICE detention center.
On Wednesday, he announced that after speaking with US Rep. Dan Meuser (PA-9), it’s true that the former Big Lots Distribution Center in Tremont Township will be one of the largest ICE detention centers in the country.
Meuser reportedly told Padora – which Coal Region Canary confirmed through an aide to the Congressman on Wednesday – that he’s spoken with ICE and confirmed the Schuylkill County facility will house up to 7,500 detainees with the plan to process them out in up to 90 days.
Padora said that information on the property’s CAMA card – which is available to the public through the Schuylkill County Parcel Locator/Map Viewer tool – was incorrect in saying that it had on-site sewer and water.
In reality, the facility is connected to the public water and sewer system but that system isn’t capable of handling what ICE wants to do there.
“It was designed for a warehouse that had a couple hundred people on a shift,” Padora said.
He said SCMA said the public sewer and water systems don’t have the capacity.
“That is a massive issue that needs to be addressed before anything goes on there,” Padora said. “Will the building comply with local planning and zoning to ensure the building can humanely carry out its mission?”
Commissioner Gary Hess wondered, “I don’t know what the conditions are going to be inside if it’s going to be that way.”
Tax Loss, Public Safety Top Other County Concerns About ICE Detention Center
Padora said the County wants to know if the Dept. of Homeland Security will meet with local officials and the public to address their concerns over the ICE detention center.
He attempted to assure Schuylkill County residents by saying, “We’re trying to be as proactive as we possibly can.”
Commissioner Gary Hess said Wednesday that he’s expressed his opinion on the facility, specifically where it’s going to be located.
“The people of Tremont, Tremont Township, and the surrounding area has gone through turmoil over the last number of years with the biosolids and now this facility,” Hess said.
Hess expressed concerns with how the federal government is operating in the lead-up to the ICE detention center locating in Schuylkill County versus how a business must handle it.
“When you have any other corporation coming in, that’s all due diligence done beforehand,” Hess said. “This was quiet. It was silent. And then bang-o, there it was. Now, we have to find out how it’s going to be.”
In addition to the utility infrastructure concerns, the County is also worried about the tax impact locally.
Schuylkill County government expects to lose about $222,000 in property tax revenue that the Big Lots warehouse generated, even if it’s empty. Tremont Township supervisors expressed these same concerns on Tuesday evening at their regular meeting.
Based on Coal Region Canary research, the township will lose just shy of 60% of its property tax revenue with the tax-exempt federal government buying the property.
And the biggest impact by dollar amount is Pine Grove Area School District, which expects to take an approximate $555,000 hit because of the sale.
Padora said he’s also concerned about security in the building and for the local communities surrounding it. He noted that Tremont Township does not have its own police force.
“What is going to be done to protect the community from the people contained inside the building and what is the plan for the outside of the facility,” he asked.
Hess added that local public safety resources are already strained, like EMS personnel, and wondered how much more they could be stretched if there are issues at the detention facility and what the federal government plans to do about that.
Padora said the County is continuing to have conversations with Meuser and representatives from the Dept. of Homeland Security through the week and trying to get answers to the concerns he shared on Wednesday.
“A lot of the questions the chairman (Padora) has said need to be answered,” Hess added.
NOTE: Commissioner Boots Hetherington was no in attendance at Wednesday’s meeting.
Photos: Coal Region Canary
FULL COVERAGE
Read all our stories on this story with impacts across the coal region by following these links, including our Topic page: ICE in Schuylkill County
WaPo: ICE Processing Facility Proposed for Schuylkill County
Icy ICE Protest Draws Dozens to Pottsville Tuesday
Meuser Challenger to Hold Town Hall on Proposed ICE Facility in Schuylkill County
Commissioners: No Evidence of a “Confirmed” Deal for ICE Facility in Schuylkill County
Commissioner Clarifies Public Remarks on Rumored ICE Facility in Tremont Twp.
New Report: Rumored Tremont ICE Facility Could Be One of Nation’s Biggest
CONFIRMED: US Government Purchases Future ICE Facilities in Schuylkill, Berks Counties
Schuylkill County Democrats Say They’ll Continue to Oppose ICE Facility in Tremont Twp.
Tremont Twp. Laments Loss of Nearly 60% of Its Property Tax Budget After Big Lots Sale to ICE
Commissioner: Tremont Twp. ICE Facility Will Be 7,500-person Detention Center
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