Our Commissioners are listening. Now, they need to pick up the phone.
On Wednesday, Commissioners Padora and Hess put Schuylkill County's concerns on the record. Here's what we know:
- 7,500 beds in the proposed Tremont detention facility
- $222,000 in lost annual revenue for the county
- $555,000 lost for Pine Grove Area School District
- $196,000 for Tremont Township (nearly 60% of their tax revenue)
- The sewage treatment plant can't handle the proposed facility
- The water system can't handle the proposed facility
- Emergency resources are already strained
It seems like everyone is waiting to hear from someone else. Leaders, you cannot wait until you hear something concrete.
HYUN SOO LEE
Coal Region Canary
We're not alone
You know that this facility's sale was shrouded in mystery and took us by surprise. There is no reason to believe that the next steps in the process will be transparent or follow normal processes. Get ready now.
Just pick up the phone and call your peer in another town. Communities across the country are fighting the same fight.
In Berks County, the commissioners are actively investigating what authority they have. Commissioner Leinbach said publicly, "I'm not going to sit here and say we have no power to stop this, because I don't know that for certain."
"I'm not going to sit here and say we have no power to stop this, because I don't know that for certain. Legal will be looking at that" - Berks County Commissioner Leinbach
In Chester, Orange County, NY, the Republican County Executive publicly opposed a facility there, and the county says it has taken legal action.
In Roxbury, New Jersey, the all-Republican township council passed a resolution declaring "unequivocal opposition" to a 1,500-bed processing center, citing water, sewer, and public safety concerns.
These leaders are fighting for their communities, and the facilities in their towns are only a fraction of the 7,500-bed facility proposed for Tremont.
We have a bigger fight and more to lose. We need our leaders to be resourceful and aggressive in protecting Schuylkill County's interests.
What should our leaders do next?
- The Commissioners should call leaders in other affected communities.
- Our county solicitors (attorneys) should do the same.
What you can do
Commissioners Padora and Hess heard the community's concerns and put them on the record.
Thank them for listening. And ask them how they intend to fight for us. (And tell them they should have meetings in the evening.)
- Chair Larry Padora: lpadora@SchuylkillCountyPA.Gov
- Commissioner Boots Hetherington: bhetherington@SchuylkillCountyPA.Gov
- Commissioner Gary Hess: ghess@SchuylkillCountyPA.Gov
Our elusive state and congressional representation
Our representatives have more connections and more power than we do as individuals. They should be using those connections and power to protect their constituents.
Rep. Stehr showed up to the town hall last week. (Thank you, Rep. Stehr!)
Call her and thank her. And ask her how she plans to fight for us:
- Rep. Joann Stehr: (570) 653-2018
Where the hell is everyone else? Pick up the phone and ask them.
- Sen. Dave Argall: (570) 621-3400
- U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser: (570) 871-6370
- U.S. Senator John Fetterman: (570) 820-4088
- U.S. Senator Dave McCormick: (570) 941-0930
Start a conversation
Talk to your neighbors and your friends about this. Share this site. Tell them what you've learned and why you're opposed to the Tremont facility. Help them understand what's at stake.
We don't want it. We can't afford it. And we're just getting started.
