At Wednesday’s Potter County commissioners’ meeting, Human Services Director James Kockler gave an update on the progress of the Women’s Residential Rehabilitation Center being planned for the former Northern Tier Children’s Home in Harrison Valley.
Kockler stated that the facility would house non-violent female inmates who were in need of substance abuse and/or mental health treatment and other services that are better provided in a residential-type setting, rather than sending them out of the county where they may not be afforded the same opportunities for rehabilitation.
Currently, the county pays $70 per day to house an inmate in a facility outside of the county, as the Potter County Jail only has accommodations for male prisoners.
Women entering into the program would be evaluated by the courts to see if they would be likely to benefit from this type of treatment. Violent offenders, such as those accused of rape, kidnapping, murder, manslaughter, arson, burglary and a number of other offenses would not be eligible.
The program is being developed alongside the new Specialty Court program for drug offenders, expanding the county’s current Alcohol Specialty Court focus implemented last year.
It is believed that drug or alcohol dependency issues contributed to the incarceration of approximately 80 percent of all individuals currently serving jail time through Potter County courts. This program is a move to reduce recidivism and help rehabilitate individuals suffering from drug and alcohol addiction issues, and give them the tools they need to become contributing members of society.
The women will be housed in a residential setting, where their children and families will be encouraged to attend sessions to help work on problems within the families, giving the individuals a better chance of succeeding in life following their release.
Anyone who does not follow the conditions set forth in their treatment plan will be placed in a county jail to serve out the remainder of their sentence, and anyone leaving the facility prior to release can be charged with escape, giving them an additional motivation to complete the program.
The Northern Tier Children’s Home facility has been empty for approximately three years. PCHS is working with Northern Tier to make improvements to the facility, and a contract is being developed between the two parties. A two-year grant of $150,000 for each year has been given to help kick start the program.
An update was presented on the State Land Tax Fairness Coalition, whose members are working to raise the payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILT) made on state-held land and to return a portion of timber and oil and gas revenues to the county in which they were produced.
Although the legislative session for this year has ended, Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint, and Sen. Joe Scarnati, R-Brockway, are still on board to sponsor legislation that would allow for both increases. Many other members are also supporting the move, as are a number of influential state organizations, including the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP), the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors and the Pennsylvania School Boards Association.
In January, the group plans to launch a new website to help disseminate information to the public on initiatives involving this topic and Austin Area School District Administrator Jerry Sasala will testify before the Pennsylvania Basic Education Funding Commission.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is the largest landowner in many rural counties, especially north central Pennsylvania. In Potter County, 42 percent of all land is state-owned, and in Cameron County 60 percent is state owned.
Adding in other preferentially-taxed properties, only 15 percent of Potter County is subject to taxation at market value. Within the Austin Area School District, only 10 percent of the land is taxable at the full rate.
In other business, commissioners approved the 2015 operating budget with an increase of 0.5 mills, though a $5 per capita tax will be suspended again this year.
At a salary board meeting held prior to the regular meeting, the board approved creating a new position of Assistant Chief Probation Officer, which will be filled by Bryan Able, who has served as a probation officer in the county for 14 years. Able will be paid $48,146 per year, and will be primarily responsible for individuals involved in the new drug court, but will be able to fill other duties as well.
Potter County Commissioners will hold their Reorganizational Meeting on at 11 a.m. Jan. 5 at the Gunzburger Building. The next regular meeting will be held at 11 a.m. Jan. 8.
