SMETHPORT – Four community service workers from the McKean
County Prison can step back and look with pride at the results of
their handiwork in renovating the county-owned building that houses
the Penn State Cooperative Extension offices on U.S. Route 6, west
of Smethport.
Working under the supervision of Rob Van Gorder, maintenance
supervisor at the prison, Steve Alexander, Tim Bottorf, Greg
Westlake and Howard Powers, who joined the group later, worked on
the actual remodeling and renovations that not only made the
century-plus-old brick building handicapped accessible, but also
made it more energy-efficient and more attractive, but also
retained the aesthetic qualities of the structure.
Van Gorder noted the project really grew out of a conversation
he had with County Administrator Richard Casey in July.
“Mr. Casey told me about his concerns about the building’s
condition,” Van Gorder said. “He asked (me) to take a look at the
building to see if there was something we could do as far as using
some inmates to fix the building.”
After inspecting the building, Van Gorder prepared a proposed
plan, which he presented to Casey. The decision was made to proceed
with the project, and the actual work began on Oct. 2.
Warden Tim Woodruff explained how the community service workers
were selected. “If we have someone who is a model inmate and we
have determined is not a flight risk, and we think can benefit from
a project like this, then we can put them in community
service.”
At first, the crew – Van Gorder also actively worked along with
the inmates – put on a rear porch for access before they removed
the front porch, which was in worse shape. “The rear steps were for
emergency exit,” Van Gorder said.
On one occasion, Jim Renner, a correctional officer, supervised
the workers.
The workers tore off the old porch down to the pylons and
replaced it, trying to keep the new one and the railings as
aesthetically similar to the original time period, which would have
been the 1890’s.
Other jobs out front included removing the shrubbery around the
porch, applying a new shingled-roof over the porch and installing a
handicapped accessible ramp.
Inside, the crew replaced all the downstairs windows with
thermal panes, after devising a plan to reduce the sizes from six
feet to four feet.
“Between all of us, we switched jobs,” said Van Gorder, who
assigned the individual jobs every day. “We would all switch tasks
and work on different aspects of the job.”
Individually, Alexander had the job of dry wall finisher, an
area where he had some experience. He also did detail work about
the doors.
Westlake is experienced as a carpenter, and Bottorf played a
major role in roofing and painting.
Ten-hour days were not unheard of, and sometimes the work
continued seven days a week. There really was no deadline, except
to finish the exterior painting before the arrival of cold
weather.
The project is still in progress, and already, the cost-savings
to the county, which purchased the materials, has been estimated at
between $25,000-$30,000.
Van Gorder said, “We’re now finishing the bathroom and kitchen,
because the original bathroom was just 3’x4′. The kitchen has to be
finished off because with enlarging the bathroom and putting in new
windows, we had to finish the entire kitchen, too.”
For years, the downstairs has been either cold or very hot since
there are no zones for the heating system. The improvements have
made for a more comfortable working place.
“Right now, I’m hoping to finish this project shortly after the
first of the year.”
On a lot of days, Van Gorder, after finishing his supervising
duties, returned to the jail to do several more hours of work.
Initially, the basic plan was to make the building handicapped
accessible, Van Gorder said.
Jim Clark, extension educator for the Penn State Cooperative
Extension, is most pleased with the renovations to his office and
the building in general, but especially with the handicapped
accessible improvements.
“Our office has responsibility to provide programs for
under-represented groups and to make sure they are aware of them
and feel comfortable attending them,” he said.
Van Gorder said the ladies who work in the Extension Office,
Ginny Eppley and Shirley Birch, were very understanding throughout
the entire project.
“They have been really great. They worked with us through all
the noise there, and they treated the workers as ordinary
guys.”
Eppley mentioned how the renovations have prompted favorable
remarks from the public.
Speaking of the workers, Eppley said, “They were very
considerate, polite and never complained, as they worked without
wasting time. The guys were even more willing to work because of
the respect Rob gave them. You could see them returning the
respect.”
Birch agreed, saying, “Rob didn’t treat the workers as a
hard-nosed guard. He was willing to take the time to help them hone
their skills.”
Van Gorder said, “It didn’t involve too much instruction; it was
like assigning tasks. You would tell them what you wanted done,
talk it over, and they would proceed. If they ran into a snag, we
would step in and help them, but most of them already had
skills.”
Clark was equally impressed with the workers and the results. He
said, “They were great workers, very helpful, and went above the
call of duty.”
Also offering his congratulation was Don Tanner, county
extension director. “These guys really worked hard to make our
building meet the Americans With Disabilities Act standards and to
make it a really usable building. They did an outstanding job.”
Birch photographed the improvements and the digital pictures
were arranged in a presentation to the prison board during its
December meeting. At that same time, the community service workers
met the prison board members, who complimented the inmates on their
work.
The inmates’ work ethic certainly impressed Van Gorder. “The
absentee rate was zero,” he said. “They were there every day. They
wanted to work.
“I’d gladly give them a recommendation.”
As for Woodruff, he is an enthusiastic backer of projects like
these. He said, “I think the sky’s the limit. These guys are
willing to work and learn. I believe it’s important to try to give
them the opportunity to do these types of jobs.”
Other similar projects could be in the near future.
