Commissioners - Regular Meeting

What's that?

Oh, yeah. Probably, like, say, 45 minutes. Yeah. I don't think so. Oh, okay. Oh, that really chills.

Can I start the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance? Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Any Executive Sessions?

Yes. As per Section 708 of the Sunshine Act, an Executive Session was held on Wednesday, March 11, 2046. at 1115 a.m. for the purpose of discussing the purchase or lease of real property.

And I want to just continue with what a member of David needs, a brief update. Today we met with, first of all, let's start with, you have contact information now for people directly at DHS. We're actually having a phone or Zoom meeting again tomorrow with DHS to address some of the questions and concerns we have. Today, Dan Muser comes from, Muser was here, met with us, went over the questions that we have getting an agenda together tomorrow hopefully i have that tonight we actually drove up to the site the big lots warehouse boots and i stopped in and talked to the owner of the daycare so we're going to bring joyce's concerns up to dhs tomorrow and she has concerns about um the governor issued before basically saying that cannot they cannot permit Any more water or sewage that already is allowable to the big lots as of right now, they are allocated a certain amount of water and sewer right now. There is a stop. We have found out through other channels, they awarded the contract for retrofitting the building to Acuity, an Acuity company that are a defense contractor. They also awarded the Maryland facility and Arizona facility to contractors for retrofitting those facilities. We saw we had the governor's words. We met with the governor last week, Shelby and I. So we both said a lot of our county solicitors. They briefed us on what they were going to do with DEP. And that's where that's at right now. We haven't met. Probably we'll have a call next week with the governor's office again. So right now it's just information. We're going to get some more questions answered tomorrow. This is the second meeting with DHS. And like I said, we have direct contact information. We are also sending an email to DHS. Now, some people won't want to hear this, but the closing of the SACS warehouse and Prisium, which was formerly Tomahawk Cable, we're sending a letter to DHS saying that this facility does open. We would want those people to have preferential treatment for employment because there's about 400 jobs that leave in SAC and close to 200 at Prisium.

About 600 total.

600 total people. So we're putting in stuff that hopefully those people can make considerations that there are jobs that are for us, you know, for that potential facility. The governor's moving along with his policies and plans. We're doing what we said we were going to do. We're going to keep talking to DHS and finding out what they're doing and getting answers and getting all the information we possibly can and getting our concerns answered about loss of income, infrastructure, trucking routes, what their plans are, inspections. One of the great things we did talk to Danny about today was We're bringing up the thing about inspection, setting up local people here. If this facility does be converted and used, that we have a group of people that can go in and periodically inspect the place randomly. And we're looking at EMS, somebody from an EMS, firefighters, 911, one of the commissioners, a group of people to try to put together and inspect it to make sure that this is being done. So that's where we're at right now. Shirley here tonight. sure okay you moved you're usually there i know so so uh i do have a the governor's office responded i'm going to have a meeting with the secretary of dvp uh beginning of april about nsp too so i just want to look at that the secretary herself about nsp and the concerns and the issues about nsp so i'll try to follow up on her so that's where we're at right now uh let's move on with public comment

If I may, we had a bid opening this morning at 9 a.m. for an emerging project. We'll be awarding that later today. Okay.

Good.

Good evening. Evening. Evening. He has to go to another meeting. There's two meetings going on. Good evening.

I'm glad we have a meeting. Good luck with Congressman Musser. Whatever. And him helping us. Because I wrote him a letter. I wanted to know where he stood on it. No answer. So good luck with him. I just wanted to talk about, you know, with the cuts coming up in January, the education, the SNAP, and Medicare is a big one. Because we have Medicare offers that we put money towards in the county. Do we?

We have them overall. Yeah, well, for us. We don't. That's the state.

Okay. That's just bad. Those cuts are coming January 1st because our politicians could not put them in effect when they put the big beautiful bill into effect because they wanted to wait until after the midterms. That's how our politicians act. So I'm hoping you for working like the shortfalls, you know, Sid Sachs just closed and the $250,000 we're going to be missing from big lots. You know, we don't have no more money. The taxpayers do not have more money. And until you guys and the city and the state and the feds I realized that we just don't have it. He's all about the work for the people. I mean, too many of his work for the weather. The city's hurting for money. I see it in the paper. They're hurting for money. You don't have it. The seniors don't have it. I see them every day. And I was at the Tremont Township meeting on the first Tuesday of the month. They're really scared because 40% of their budget is gone with this. Again, I'll say, we should have been demonstrating on the 9th of January when we heard of this coming. We should have been demonstrating. Because eight other sites in the United States, they demonstrated and they didn't open one. And you can say about workers, there better be a lot of bilingual workers or speakers in this county to work there, because that's what they're looking for, bilingual workers. One last question I have. I'm serious on the taxes, Larry, or Commissioner. We just can't do it. I mean, it's crazy. And the education, the SNAP, and the Medicare is going to get pushed down to the county, the state.

the state's going to say you guys take care and you're going to say we're going to help you know and i understand you saying that you couldn't help it but somebody's got to be talking and then i'll be honest with you i bring it up every time i'm with the governor or with our state representatives that counties need alternate sources of revenue other than property tax yeah i believe in property tax relief completely from the very beginning We're bringing it up again at CCAP. It's actually starting to get some traction.

Just one last thing, Mr. Chairman. On the second page of this, you're looking to approve a supplement of budget appropriation for $500,000 for the prior year. What does that mean?

It's just a moving of money around.

It's strictly an accounting move for money that were allocated already? Yeah, if they could be moved to another category so they could be expensive.

Well, you already have that. You already have that. OK. Thank you very much.

Have a good afternoon. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening.

Good evening. I'm Cheryl Mack from Tremont, PA. I realize we have a David and Goliath problem on our hands trying to get this detention center stopped. But we definitely feel it's easier to try to get it stopped from opening than try to get it stopped from operating once we realize some of the problems that we expect to occur. I was Secretary of Tremont Borough for 11 years, and as such, I was tasked with writing resolutions for the borough. And in watching Rachel Maddow, if any of you follow her, she's been covering the problems and the pushback with all the other detention centers that are being proposed. Three of them have already been taken off the table by the U.S. government. What all that opposition had in common was that their local government supported the opposition and they also led the charge. It was not a political issue. In some of the cases, the opposition was in what they call red districts. One area, it was the all Republican city council who led the opposition. So in that regard, to support our cause, I made up resolutions for Tremont Borough, Fraley Township, Tremont Township, and the Schuylkill County Commissioners to see if you would consider having your solicitor look over it, see if you agree of our health and safety concerns with the detention center, and consider adopting it. to support our cause and put a little bit of meat because until this point, I've only heard Mr. Hess come out in opposition to the detention center. It seems to me like you're trying to facilitate them in getting here. Good evening.

I am Sarah Munger, also of Tremont, and I have come to speak up against the ICE facility in Tremont as well. These warehouses that they are doing ICE are completely and 100% another vile stain on the United States conscience. What was started in the 16th century by conquistadors in Florida has continued time and again with smallpox-infused blankets, slavery, Japanese internment camps in the 1940s, Jim Crow laws all throughout. We must stop this by any means necessary, not only by our own constitutions, but also by the 1949 Geneva Conventions, our people being held illegally. Yes, I realize that the conventions are for unoccupied territory, but make no mistake, we are being occupied by our very own federal government in the form of ICE.

That's good.

Unlawful confinement, as defined by the Geneva Conventions of 1949, Article 147, strictly prohibits unlawful confinement of civilians, and that is a person in occupied territories who are not actively fighting, and they are the ones that are protected. They are required to be detained or interned, because that's really what's happening here is internment. Only if absolutely necessary for the security of the detaining power. And frankly, there really is no reason for them to be detained. Kowtowing to the federal government from new commissioners is not a good look and it's not a viable offense. Just ask every single person who was brought to trial at Nuremberg. Please be on the right side of history and fight this abomination. Remember the pledge that you literally just said at the beginning of this meeting? liberty and justice for all. Every single person. It doesn't have a little asterisk behind it saying just the white people who look like me, who think like me, who act like me. It says all. Thank you for your time.

If you want to do it after everybody's done mine, that is taking away time.

this so when you come afterwards what everybody's got to do is my name is florence hunger and i look at this detention center from so many different angles that each angle makes me furious the fact that you are even considering allowing human beings to be interred in places where there's cages and in humane treatment no medical care or very little minimal medical care just like the other detention centers throughout the county is scary, very, very scary. I am concerned about that and we treat our animals better in SPCA shelters than those people in detainment centers are being detained. I do not believe that the people that are being hired by ICE are, I don't know how to say this, for something that we need to have in our community in Tremont in Pasco or any place. I don't want some ICE person breaking down my door because he suspects that I might have somebody harboring in my home. That's a terrifying thing to think about. Maybe you men don't think about it, but I think about it as a woman. The water, the sewage, the electrical, the medical and care, the fire service in Tremont, they're stretched too thin now. They're hauling in water to the water tank now. And they want to put 1,700 people or 17,000 people there? 7,500 of the attorneys and another 10,000 employees. That's the VHS words. 2,500 and 2,500 employees. Well, I was told 10,000 employees. No. OK. 10,000 total.

OK. 10,000 total.

OK. But there's cutting in water now. The last time we had a major fire, the fire tank ran out of water. We had to stop. We had to pull water out of the creek and out of dams and call in Tanger Task Force. So we can't, the town can't sustain that with water and sewage. I urge you to stand up for Draymond. I urge you to stand up for this county and vote against it. Adopt Cheryl's resolution and stand up for the federal government and say, no, this community has had enough.

Thank you. Any other comments?

Good evening, sir. How are you guys doing?

How are you? Good, good, thanks. My name is Monson Allen. I live in Schuylkill Haven, so I'm not in Tremont, but I'm in there often. I want to start by thanking you guys for doing this for us and for having us, and especially for those of you who have come out strongly against this facility. Because I think that you've been clear that it doesn't work for us. It doesn't work because there's not enough water as is. It doesn't work because there's nowhere to put the sewage and Fremont already kind of has a problem with that. It doesn't work for the tax base. It doesn't work because it's not going to bring any jobs into the community. The jobs are going to come from elsewhere. It's going to be an island. People are going to come in. They're going to make the money. They're going to leave. They're not going to leave any of that money behind. We're just going to get a terrible reputation. No one wants to leave next to Treblinka. No one wants to open a business in Dachau. But the reason I came was because I saw in the Washington Post last week, and I brought up, if you guys are interested, that the... The DHS has been disseminating talking points to friendlies, obviously, specifically Republicans, trying to get people to believe that this is good for their communities. So I guess the question I'm going to have for you is, you've been in contact with DHS, I'm sure. Have they been doing that with you? What has that contact been like? And what is the pushback in life for you? Because it is important, I think, for us to know what the conversations are. So thank you.

Honestly, there is no, there are no talking points away because we have questions we want answers. And that's what we're working towards getting on all the questions that were brought up about health, all the services, everything. That's what we're, that's what we're working on. And hopefully tomorrow they have more answers.

Stapp, With those questions that are first reading we expected some answer for you and we'll see. Oh, look into this little into our sense to be demanded a second meeting to the answers. Stapp, First thing we've actually got some names faces emails. Stapp, Telephone before we had all we do is DHS so we press very horrible. Yeah, I was told that. Yes, for the two weeks or like going out of that plan. I said, well, it doesn't matter if it's two inch or 20 inch. If it's like the treatment place can't take it, it doesn't matter. But that was all the information they had. So we had lots and lots of questions. We expected a bunch of answers. We got almost nothing. All they did talk about was we're considering doing something for the tax losses. Other than that, if I'm wrong about it.

And they brought us that they have plans for modern sewer. What those plans are, we asked for specifics. We asked for specifics. We want their plans and actually to be able to see them.

We've been very close with Pat Coffey from the Municipal Water Authority because he's concerned too. He runs that system. We've had many conversations. He asked the same question we are. If it is a plan, let's see it. Yeah, that's the only way. Good evening.

Thank you very much. Many times I've asked, I'm an environmentalist and an attorney, and I think

Could you state your name and your address?

Emma Best, E-A-S-T. And I live down in Carbon, and I wanted to come up. I realize I might not have standing, but I do have some experience for some questions that I think might be relevant to your consideration.

Maybe if we have time after the people from Schuylkill County.

Okay. I didn't mean to cut it, but kind of. any of you to go and if there's time it's just a standard procedure it's the rules it's okay so they do this in carmen county they do it in every county yes if there's a pretty school county people speak then we will love this fast and i actually i think i bet you before when you were talking about weren't you here with our environmental issues at one time when they're monitoring i think you were once with the landfill blight Let the risks to county people go. Sorry, but that's the way it is.

I have primarily questions tonight. Good evening. My name is Natalie Vartush. I'm from Orwigsburg. And like others here, I share in the concerns and all that.

Correct.

Correct. parts of sites. My first question is, have you had a conversation with Dan Muser? And if so, how receptive was he to the idea that this is truly not good for our area, period, and it's not good for anyone here? The idea that there will be jobs, we've seen at other locations, they use federal staffing organizations for that. And as someone else has already noted, bilingual So I think Dan is really off course here and I hope you helped to correct that. So my question there is, what exactly did you say to push back on his perception that this would be good for our area? I'm gonna list them and then I can go because I know I have a limited amount of time. The second question I have is, do you all plan to attend the town hall in Fremont on a Friday evening? i'm sorry to hear that because i think it's really important i don't know that we've our area has faced anything more important than this in quite some time it's really disappointing that at the county level we won't have full leadership there but i understand we're all busy people um and then i guess my final or no actually i would i think it would be very interesting for those of us present to have you enumerate your questions and concerns so that we know if all of the things we're concerned about are covered.

We've done that at every single meeting. We have provided copies of the letters we have. We've copied all the letters to anybody that asked for them. And everybody, out of all the other meetings, we've provided copies of the questions, the letters that I sent, the questions, and it's been covered by Co-Regent Canary, Correct. And I've read them all.

It's a dynamic situation, however, and constantly changing. So I'm aware also that there might be some new points that have come up. So if there are, that would be very helpful to know. And then finally, regardless of what the feds plan to do, I wonder here at the county level, as county leadership, what plans are you patching for replacing any lost tax revenue should this abomination actually occur? So, and with that, I'll step back. I've listed my questions, but I'm hoping that there's already a robust plan in place to make up for those critical revenues that will frankly devastate our county. Thank you.

Any other public comments from people in Cooper County? I hope all understood.

I'm Helen Sluzas from Maria.

Good evening. Good evening. And I want to thank the commissioners for an evening meeting. That's the only way I was able to attend tonight, so I appreciate that. I'm from Maria, which is in the northern part of Schuylkill County, and we're trying to fend off data centers and warehouses in Maria and New Boston right now. But I made time to come here tonight because I want to show up and be in solidarity with my neighbors in the west end of Schuylkill County who are fighting to save their community. I'm asking the commissioners for two things only. I'm asking you to commission an independent economic impact study rather than relying on the federal government's assessment. I do not trust the federal government. I'm asking the commissioners also to go on the record opposing the massive ICE detention center in Tremont. To date, only Commissioner Hess has done so. This is an easy ask. G.L.A. it's simply a statement of work that you represent the people and you support their desire to keep this ice detention Center out of our Community other communities around the nation, just as rural and small as us are resisting and winning. G.L.A. i'm asking you not to just roll over. G.L.A.

Any other problems with your family.

City Council Chambers. City Council Chambers. City Council Chambers. City Council Chambers. City Council Chambers. City Council Chambers. City Council Chambers. Commissioner has spoken out against the ice facilities white house have you as a group not oppose this my second question our congressman has been mostly silent when did you first reach out to him directly.

If this comes to.

If I can have my minutes i've given your time, but you asked December, thank you, December one minute of air and possible Republican if this comes to fruition.

How can you ensure that the occupants will be cared for with humanity? These are human beings. Will they be ensured privacy for personal cares and medical care? We've seen horrifying stories of other facilities where they've been held. As we've seen, school-aged children have also been detained at ICE facilities, including some, in some cases, children that are American citizens. Will education services be offered to the children at the Tremont facility if it comes to fruition? Have you asked for reimbursement from the federal government for education expenses? The onus of these services would fall, likely, on the Pine Grove Area School District. How will they be compensated for this? Is there a floor plan that has been proposed? Again, will there be a private area set aside for detainees to meet with their legal representation? Why will you not attend the town hall this Friday evening? This is so important to your community. and folks that you represent as elected officials.

So the reason we're not addressing them, I'm not attending the questions. What if you want to call me?

Oh, you can answer them.

Most of the questions have been answered. Is there any other public comment? Is there anybody else from Schuylkill County? We will have, if he has a questions on that.

Okay, will you answer any of them this evening?

Which ones? We found out December 26th. I can't remember. Whenever it was in the public, the next day I was on the phone. We couldn't get any confirmation on it at all. We did find out, and I know some people are going to get upset when I say this, the historic review board of the state knew January 9th that the federal government bought it. Before any of us told us.

They had an inquiry about historical Indian burial grounds and artifacts. So that was early January. But now why it didn't get the governor?

The reporter told us it didn't get the governor. They found that out in subsequent, in that filing that they put from DEP that they, somebody from the historic thing in the governor's office knew January 9th that this was going to be purchased. We found out that they, we were inquiring the whole time. for two months, couldn't get any confirmation. Our confirmation was the beta D was reported.

Part of the infrastructure planning is also the education. Have you spoken with anyone from the Pine Grove School District?

That was brought up. Pine Grove School District was meeting with DHS, and they brought that up to DHS and DHS, and that's not a concern for these facilities. So it was brought up in a conversation with Pine Grove. Are they familiar with the Pennsylvania state law regarding education? The superintendent was on the call from Pine Grove Township. Stapp, And emerald house.

Stapp, Why do you know plan to attend the meeting town hall meeting on Friday.

Stapp, Because, you know, I got was they're going to be in charge of security and I've got the death threat over this already been called a Nazi and all kinds of names. Stapp, So something with security and everything. I don't know. We have a meeting every Wednesday and you have the night meetings. And we're disseminating the exact same information, the information is not going to be different.

Commissioner has this gentleman enough to attend the previous meeting. Again, why will you not attend?

That's why I just stated my reason.

Thank you for your time.

Is there any comment from Schuylkill County? You have a comment?

So I need to be up there. Yes.

Yes, you can.

Otherwise, we'll be on live on the microphone. Otherwise, people are in that area. Thank you.

The only person who left me nothing there is Shirley. You may hand her the microphone.

Good evening. My name is Chuck Claybaugh. I'm from Deer Lake. Thank you for the time. Monday night, I was watching the news and it was breaking news. And I'm going to put the water in a sewer site. but what was brought up concerned me a lot. There is a detention center now in West Texas in East Montana. They call it Camp Montana, holds 5,000. And what is happening there is multiple health issues with measles and tuberculosis. That's a big issue. The second big issue is security. There have been multiple homicides in that detention center, and that concerns me, and I believe it would concern anybody in the county. It's not a good look for the county. If you see there's a homicide on channel 16 news or channel whatever news there is, anybody watching it, I think would be really upset. So I highly would consider what's happening now is the, federal government is seriously putting, closing it on the table. So there's 5,000 that, you know, can go away. But thank you for your time. That's all I have.

Thank you.

My name is Laurel.

I'm from Tremont. I understand that there are threats. I learned a new word this week, docks. Breanne and I were dogs.

I didn't know what that was.

So we have threats, and I went to call the Tremont Police Department, but we don't have one. So I've made calls, and I'm going to still go forward with the town hall because it's important, and you need to hear from your residents. And the fact that you're not going because you're scared is ridiculous. No, you let me talk. I have a question. I have a question for you two at the end. Do you support the detention center, yes or no?

I'm not making a statement on it. That's a yes. You want us to be involved in the politics of it. That's a yes. It's a yes or no.

You want the politics of it. It's not politics. Yes, it is. We're the ones living with the consequences of it, not you.

We do not have the power to judge.

Do you support it?

Yes or no? And that means that you support it.

We're going to have the town hall Friday. I would love for all three of you to have the guts to be there and just listen. Not everybody can come on Wednesdays at 10 o'clock. We all have jobs. We don't have days off that are paid. We have to go to work. And we need you to hear our concerns. And the fact that only one of you is planning on attending speaks volumes.

Hello.

My name is Ava Miller, and I am 18 years old. And I have just one question for you today. How can you look at me, a kid with a future in this country, and tell me that what is happening is okay? How can you look at me and tell me that your choice is going to let these atrocities happen in our own community? How can you look at me and tell me this is the future you want for our country and for children like me? How can you look me in the eye and tell me that this is okay?

What do you want me to say?

How can you tell if this is okay?

Once again, I'm going to go back to my original statement. We have met with the governor. The governor, if he has the power to stop the things he does, and from the DEP thing that I saw, I don't know if he can or can't, but this county has to make sure that if it does come to fruition, that we have in lieu of taxes, we have all the health and safety issues answered, because if we don't talk to them, and they come in and do whatever they want and we have no signed agreements, how do we get in lieu of taxes? How do we get infrastructure improvement if they're going to hook up to our water and sewer, SCMA's water and sewer, not the county, it's Trevon, borough and SCMA's water supply? How do we know what they're going to do if we don't have communications with them? How do we know if they're going to let us come in and inspect the place or not inspect the place? Do we just rely on that the governor sent DEP that says, oh, you can issue a permit? Or do we rely on getting signed agreements with them that say, yeah, we have a county prison that we're responsible for making sure people are treated humanely. And you know what? People die over there. People do drug overdoses. There's all kinds of issues with that thing. I think the government should be held at the same standard that we are. And they're the question that we're asking. But not to interact with them at all in any way, shape, or form. How do we get signed agreements with them like they did in other counties and other states?

We're also cooperating fully with the governor.

And we're also cooperating fully with the governor. As we obtain information, we are handing it over every once a week. We are meeting with the governor's attorneys, and we are handing over any information that we get to the governor's office. So, yes, we're being responsible for all the taxpayers of Schuylkill County. And I understand people are upset at this. I understand it's a hot-button issue. I understand the politics of it. I believe my job is to make sure we have signed agreements with them in place that if it comes to Schuylkill County, that these issues are addressed. Because if not, the taxpayers of Schuylkill County will be holding the bag completely. If they don't fund our 911, if they don't give money for EMS and protection, what are they doing for police protection up there? What are they doing to make sure the building, that our 911, if our first responders go in the building, that they can communicate and talk to each other on the radios? It's a multifaceted issue. If it comes here, we have to make sure it's a multifaceted issue.

Excuse me, is this still my time?

No, your time's been up for a while.

Right, but you were talking about this, so I would like to say something.

Go ahead.

So you were telling us, the youth of America, that this is okay, that you're just going to roll over and accept this.

That's not what we're saying.

So what are you saying?

We are trying to protect. We are doing the best we can.

You're putting words in our mouth. We're not going to order.

They speak for yourself.

I'm supposed to come to Tremont tomorrow night and have you both call me a Nazi, a terrorist, a bum, a liar, and tribute.

Because that's what's going on here. We're getting front sides. Well, I'm just saying overall.

It's not one way or the other.

thank you everyone for listening thank you um i just have one question for you and thank you for listening to me i noticed that of all your name oh sorry aaron miller i noticed of all of the people that you took the time to answer and have a lot to say it was the 18 year old because she stared out and asked me for a specific question right a lot of people started asking a specific question That was my only question. And my only comment is that the only person that you actually took time to not answer the question, but to talk at was an 18-year-old.

No, everybody's asking questions. I try to brief everybody every week. We are providing all the information we possibly can. As soon as I get it, we disseminate it here. If people want copies of it, copies of letters, copies of everything. We're giving everything we possibly can to the media. We are doing the best we can with this situation. And I know you don't think we are, but we have to look at the entire picture of everything.

And we have to talk to DHS. If we didn't talk to them, we wouldn't have any information whatsoever.

If we didn't talk to the Congressman or Senator's office or anything about this issue or the governor's office, we can't just be in the dark on everything. We need to know what they're doing, what their plans are.

And we can still apologize.

Let's move on with public comment, please.

That's what we want.

We want you to apologize. Okay. My name is Krista Kantner. I live in Ormsburg, and that's exactly what I set aside to say. We appreciate that you are being forthcoming with the information you're getting, sharing information from all the bodies that you're receiving it from. However, we want action. We want you to make a statement on behalf of the citizens of our county to say that we do not want this in our county, not only for the reasons of fiscal responsibility and infrastructure issues, but on the humanitarian aspect of it also. We do not want this in Schuylkill County and we would like you to act upon that on our behalf.

trying to get to as fast.

Melinda Divert, North Manhattan Township. Wow, we have really heard some good comments, statements, concerns here this evening. I would like to reach out to our board of commissioners and especially our chairman, Larry, Dora. I do appreciate everything that you guys do are trying to do, and like I said, especially you, Larry, I know you have spent a lot of time at work on this, trying to address the issues, whether it's safety, health care, you name it. I know you have been trying to do your due diligence. I'm a little bit upset that it took all of this to finally get Commissioner Hess to finally come out opposition for something out in the West End after probably over three years at least that Jeff Dunkel and I have been attending these meetings and speaking out about natural soil products and everything that is being done out in the West End the poisoning of those residents out there but it is comforting I guess that the DEP secretary is now stating that she's willing to hold a meeting or something to actually discuss the concerns with NSP. Awesome. Too bad that it took us getting to this point for that to happen. Let's hope that we can have some sort of resolution or improvement on that front.

Okay.

Okay. All right. I'm going to have to go back to our Congressman, Dan Muser, or as I like to call him, Missing in Action Muser. One of two things happened here. Either he had no clue whatsoever that these two facilities were going to come into his district. So, hmm. So none of his higher-ups, his superiors, no one in acquisitions with the federal government gave him a heads-up that you, Dan, were thinking about purchasing these two properties here. Are you cool with that or what? Okay. If they didn't give him the heads-up, he ought to be pissed to high hell that nobody gave him that heads-up. Or it could be the second thing is going on. He's willing to sacrifice these two areas of his district, perhaps to gain some brownie points with President Trump. I don't know what's going on, but it's one of those two things is going on here. Now, perhaps the reason that we are not getting a statement from our board of commissioners regarding whether they are in favor of or opposed to this facility. Understanding 2027, next year, will be an election year for most of our row officers and our board of commissioners. Now let's think about this. Do our Republican commissioners need to probably prop up Dan Muser and help him out, defend him? Because guess what? When it comes time for Republican campaign contributions to come down the pike, and if that's going on with our commissioners, we got to look at our state representatives as well. The two state reps who are going to be affected by these facilities, Joanne Stare and Janie Barton. Where do our two state representatives stand? on this ICE detention center. Are they in favor of it? Opposed to it? I'm betting we're not going to really get a definitive answer. Because guess what? They also depend on those campaign contributions. Thank you for your time.

Well, the fifth answer, the one right there. I know he's only here because it's anti-Dan Muezer. Dan Muezer was the only person that set up meetings. He's the only one from the very beginning. I know you can't get upset. We call the governor's office. No meeting until we just had the one with the governor down in Berks County. Senator Federman's office, Senator McCormick's office. We have dealt with their aides. We have dealt with other people. But Congressman Muser is the only one that set up the meetings with DHS, has been pushing for them. and has been trying to hold them accountable and asking the same questions we are and trying to get us answers. He's the only one that is doing that for us. Now the governor, we did meet with him once and we are having, I think it's just weekly with his attorney, with our attorney to give them our information. The congressman was here today. He met with us today. We went up to the facility today. He got us to meeting with DHS again tomorrow. He is trying. Good that you guys are here because he doesn't answer his constituents. I'm sorry. I can't answer that question. I'm trying to do what's best because Google can't give me the answers.

Stay like a dollar short, Larry.

Stay like a dollar short. Okay, thank you. Good evening, sir.

Good evening. I'm Robert Caputo. I'm from Tamaqua. And all you people aren't going to like this with the exception of two that I know will like it. First of all, I understand where you're coming from. You're stuck in the middle here. And everybody has to admit that. They get government tax dollars, they get tax dollars from you. The government supplies them with money, you supply them with money. They're stuck in the middle, first of all. Second of all, how long are these people going to be there? They're not there for a lifetime.

They're saying 40 to 65 days. I understand that.

I'm the one, and I'll tell you what, and I don't believe none of you could say this. I'm sick of what's going on with these people. They should be in a detention and shipped back to the country. I was behind a school bus yesterday. Lights flashing, stop sign comes out. And you don't have to tell me. I know they're illegal because they can't read stop signs.

They drive through traffic lights. Pay attention and you'll see this.

I follow these people around.

They throw garbage everywhere, wherever they want. And I'm tired of it. I really am. And something has to be done.

And maybe you people don't like that they're going to put them in a detention center. But to answer that 18-year-old girl's problem, you should be happy that this is happening. Because if this goes on like it's going to go on, you're not going to have a future.

I don't want people yelling. I have never, hold on, everybody just stay colonized. I have never ejected anybody from a commissioner's meeting since I've been So just, no, wait, just, he did not yell at her. He made a statement. So just stay, everybody just stay calm.

I'm sorry if I feel that way, but I'm upset by this whole thing. You have to understand this. Just over in Esquihoni, trucks come down Broad Mountain and fly into cars and over into people's properties. They can't reach road signs. They're legitimate to it. They just can't do it. How long before somebody gets killed? Just pick up the newspaper and see how many names are in there from another country. Read them. 90% of it. Don't laugh at me. Do your homework.

Hey, hey, stop.

Stop. Stop. I don't know.

no there's a proper way to come into this country and our grandparents and everybody else did it hold on so so should they okay just no this isn't a debate thank you for your comments mr camuta is there any other comments so we can move on with the meetings yes you can't have some comments okay so it's an unanswered question okay just there's an unanswered question about the independent economic study um and we're not relying on the economic impact study it's real simple The only thing that affects Google County is tax revenue for impact for economics to the county, the township, and the school district. Now, the other economic impacts, but you asked about the economic impact, and we're not like other states where they have all the different tax revenue and different taxes. We are strictly property channels. So, go ahead.

Sorry, I wasn't planning on making a comment today, but I just wanted to clarify. I emailed the three of you to invite you to the town hall. I got an email in response from Ms. Hofstadter, the solicitor, and it just said that it didn't allow for your schedules, which I understand, but you made a comment about security. And that wasn't mentioned in the email. And I did say I wanted you to reach out if you wanted to discuss with me how it would be more comfortable for you to attend. We've already spoken to the state police. I am hiring private security. If you're still busy, I understand. But I just want to let other people know that we are doing that. And we won't be discussing immigration policy. And we will use our security to remove people if we're going to talk about immigration policy, because that's not on the table for the town hall, because this is what happens.

OK, thank you. Any other questions? Yeah. Is there anybody else at Schuylkill County that would like to comment? But surely I know I'll get to spend time and then we'll get to this fast because it is, we're at 51 minutes and we have to finish the business of the gallery.

That was interesting. Jeff, just for the record, he has a name in there. I was going to start with him. I've been down at Rodeo before. Okay. Jeff D'Angelo Palo Alto. So all these answers that we keep asking DHS for and everybody else, we're still not getting anywhere. I just don't understand how we can't get anywhere. I'm glad Joanne's here, even though she walked out while every constituent spoke. But she had stated that they're planning to open in the spring. So we're just gonna keep kicking the can down the road and waiting for these answers. If they're opening in the spring, around the corner uh somebody else asked about her stance on this she's on record stating three quarters of her constituents support this i don't know now he's here i'm glad did you do a separate poll did you send an email out did you how did you come up with that three quarters of your constituents because i i see one person here that's i don't think in your territory but every other person that spoke is in your territory and they oppose it so i've tried to figure out where these three quarters of the people are How did you, how did you come up with that number is what I'm asking.

It's not a debate.

But we're shutting down, you understand what I'm saying? These poor people are, they doubled the bottle solids for years and now, you know, false representation. She walks out as soon as public comment starts and conveniently comes back in when every one of her constituents are done. You stood out there peeking through the door to see if people were still talking.

If that's okay with you. No, it's not.

I'd like your answer on the three quarters. That's what I'd like it on. Anyway, is there a letter from Lisa Stevens? Paul, did we get that yet?

No.

Okay. So again, Lisa Stevens, she ran a payroll scheme for you people that don't know that. Children and youth. She was a slap on the wrist and then let go. Now she works for a third party for children and youth, but it was supposed to be referred to the AG. I said third party. It was referred to the AG, but nobody can show me any paperwork. Ms. Gaffney, I know she's walking, because apparently she told somebody in the audience, don't get arrested tonight when my name was mentioned. It's 574 days since she stood at this podium, another one that's a waste of time. She worked less than 100 hours in six months in this building, for you people that don't know that. If anybody should be arrested, it should be her for fraud. She never shows up here at all. But 574 days, she claims she was on FMLA, which is illegal for any elected official. What did that say? I appreciate that. Larry says that after every meeting. So again, no response from her about her FMLA claims. Did we ever find a missing evidence that the president judge had spoke about on record?

Okay.

Next on the list. The person that was supposedly suspended for three weeks Get me three minutes. After his second incident. Some serious allegations and incidents. I supposedly got a three week suspension. I'd like to know more on that because I believe the county has a zero tolerance policy and I think that would be part of the DOJ agreement. It's a personal matter.

Discuss personnel that all Boulevard County policies are being followed exactly into the letter that they're supposed to be. under our new policies that were done.

But if you recall, prior to you being elected, Boots pushed for two women with a bogus claim to be suspended without pay for 948 days.

Those two women are back.

That's neither here nor there. But if you're following policies, this is a zero tolerance with the Department of Justice.

The new DOJ consent decree approved by the DOJ.

Okay, so my last thing. Jeff, it's being fired. Well, he should be fired. I mean, point blank.

I'm saying I can't comment.

Or more than a three-week suspension. You have them suspended for 948 days. Not you, but your predecessor. The last thing I have is the PAR report being amended at all.

Yes.

Or what I believe. That's it.

Once again, first off.

That's all I was asking.

Is there any comment from two county people? Is there anyone after this one? Charlie, you can go next.

Anything, sir? Tom Lee, Smartman. And I'll hop up. What's the reason that you don't say one way or the other that you're for or against? Is there a reason that's?

Because it's not. The politics of it isn't what we're elected to do.

Okay, so it would be politics if you didn't. Okay, so there's only one commissioner who's done that, right?

It wasn't all a tux.

I didn't say it. I just asked the questions here, fella. The lady who said you shouldn't trust the federal government, I agree with that lady 100%. You shouldn't. The things that bother me, first of all, I'm a United States Marine. I'm also the product of legal immigrants. My ancestors came here in 1900. Their name ended in an O as well. At the end of the day, what they did was there was a process from which they came here, and what they did was they became productive citizens of America, essentially learning our language and then paying taxes, not taking from government, and essentially becoming citizens, Americans. A lot of my problems is that the Trump administration, immigration wasn't my top issue because I'm for legal immigration, but not illegals. And so the fact that they're not here, or the fact that they are here, but that they're not legal, whatever that process is, as a Marine, it's got family, core country. If it's at the suffering of our community, as some people will say, we're gonna suffer because of this. If that's what it takes for the overall better, the better welfare of our future, then I support whatever it takes to do that. And I feel that that's something that we should be. When I heard that it was coming, I don't have a problem saying that. I'm for it. I'm for a humane way to gather people and send them back to where it is that they come from. And to get into all that other crap, I feel is, you know, we always look for the worst thing out of the one thing out of a hundred and say, oh, look at this one thing. You know, things happen. I spent time with the prisons and stuff. You'd be surprised with our own people, the things that our own people go through in this country who are already American citizens. So I would say that. Please don't read the CIA propagated article from the Washington Compost. You don't want to read that. What else do we have on here? Let's see. I would also say that somebody would not have come out against it if we could elect three Republicans, but we cannot. So we have to have a Democrat. The money that we spend now on illegal immigration, we talk about a little bit of tax money here and there for a community. What we spend as a whole, that far outweighs anything that we would lose in tax revenue. So appreciate that. Oh, also to answer somebody had a question about the three quarters, I would say, get your answer on election day when we win 75 of the vote in schuylkill county one of the most red uh counties in the country so that's where you see your three quarters thanks let's see is there any other comment from people from shirley you want to go yes one question only and this is for all three of you

Has the county or the school district or Tremont Township been offered any incentives to not oppose?

Not that I know of, no. We have got nothing.

And if the question was asked, I apologize.

No, there has been nothing. The only thing we are discussing is we have found some incidences where they have paid in lieu of taxes. We have found some incidents where for 911, there's a surcharge per person per day in the facility. We're trying to gather information from facilities all across the country on what they did when these facilities came into their communities and what they did for loss of revenue infrastructure. So no, there's been nothing. No, not that I know of in any way, shape, or form.

And our first meeting of the question was asked about a pilot. payment and a little taxes. And the DHS said, that's something to consider. That's not school. And tomorrow's meeting, we're going to ask the question again. For the school, the county, for the school district, for the township, will there be a payment and a little taxes to make up the law? Once again, that study was all about people coming to the area, buying clothes, buying food. Sure, it's going to be great sales tax for Pennsylvania, but nothing for the county or the township. So we've stretched it very loudly that they want our cooperation and want us to work with them There has to be compensation for the school district and the county and the township.

So the answer to my question is yes, there have been incentives offered.

No, you're asking if there was incentives beforehand. No, there's nothing yet definitive. We are trying to get them to commit to paying in lieu of taxes to Tremont Township, in lieu of taxes to Pineville Township, and in lieu of taxes for the county. We're also trying to get them to commit to What are they doing with infrastructure? What are they at any charges for the police in that area? How are they going to deal with the state police for Tremont Township? Because there's no police. We're trying to find out everything that they're going to have to do. And even, and I know people don't believe this because I'm a Republican, we did bring up about humane treatment because we have to do it in the county prison. And we brought that up today. Well, we have to abide by the county prison. Would they have to abide by that? And would they be open to inspections? of a group of people that can go in and inspect it randomly. So we are trying to address every issue that the county can't. And that's what we're doing. But no, there is no previous incentives to be supportive of this or not supportive of it in any way that I know. The other thing was when the deed got reported, the township and the school district. The township got $500 and some thousand, almost $600,000. And the school district got $600,000 because they get half a percent each of the transfer tax. And the state got $1.2 million. And once again, the county got something. stop thank you that's just normal for the cat thank you okay is there anybody else from school from town

Thank you very much for giving me an opportunity to speak, even though I'm not one of your constituents. I really appreciate it. I wanted to speak briefly just one of my areas of practice is on water treatment and sewer and stormwater issues of water things generally in Pennsylvania. I would encourage you to ask some really hard questions. I'm glad to hear that you're looking at the pilot. I understand and appreciate the limits of your authority here. But normally when at the HAB-Juliette Boone, Change of you that we are looking at here. HAB-Juliette Boone, Right here if we're looking at a whole new water treatment. HAB-Juliette Boone, On the back end of the minimum you can't expand something that big we're looking at some extremely large infrastructure impacts I don't think that those were considered in advance. HAB-Juliette Boone, And, and I would and normally the repairs are the ones holding the bag so and county of the town can't tax or generally charge up so just. I encourage you to ask really hard questions about that.

That was shared with people here the other week. We actually put in there that if there is any expansion or impact on water and sewer, that it's not to be borne by the rate payer in any way, shape, or form, that the federal government has to pay for any water and sewer expansion, that the rate payers in Tremont and Tremont Township that are on it cannot afford to pay those increases that would be. So we are addressing the rate payer impact also in our comments with DHS that they cannot, Tremont cannot afford to pay for an increase of the sewage treatment. People at Tremont can't afford to do, they can't afford to expand the water that's there already. So if anything would have to be done with that, the federal government has to pay for that completely. So we are addressing them. It's one of the things that we're in our concerns. We're trying to cover as much as we possibly can. And I have, she can attest to, he brought up on the health issues i made sure that was put into our questions i actually do listen and we add them to our questions when people we stopped today at the daycare to talk to the woman with the daycare i am addressing her she brought up specific concerns to us i am addressing them tomorrow with dhs on her email so we're trying to cover all the bases thank you very much thank you the other public comment so can we move out of the meeting

On agenda number 11, on the veterans prepared. Where are those slides made?

As far as I know, they're made in the United States of America. Look at that website. Okay, well then, I will put a caveat that we have to get to the United States of America. Okay, let's move on with the meeting. Can I ask you to approve the minutes from the commission meeting of February 25th? So moved with the chairman. Second. On the question. Mr. Arcadora. Yes. Mr. Heatherington. Yes. Mr. Hackett. Yes. I move for approval of the minutes no, no work session of March 4. I move with the chairman. Second. No question.

Mr. Arcadora. Yes. Mr. Heatherington. Yes.

Mr. Hackett. Yes. The motion to approve it was presented by children and youth at our work session. So moved with the chairman. Second. On the question.

Mr. Arcadora. Yes. Mr. Heatherington. Yes. Mr. Hackett. Yes. The motion to approve it was presented by the grant writers at our work session. So most are second question. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Second question.

Yes.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Finance Office.

Good evening, Commissioners. One slight adjustment to the agenda presented. The first item is, indeed, a current year, 609 adjustment for tax assessment. The other two items are present at 8,000 in the Office of Community Services. 52 are final year tax assessments and advisers. And as was stated earlier, we are requesting immediate approval for the $500,000 final year adjustments for funds that are already in budget as to approximation.

I'll make a motion to approve the Our year is just about 2025-36, $500,000. Second. Any questions?

Commissioner Padora? Yes. Commissioner Hetherington?

Yes. Commissioner Hatton? Yes. County administration, can I know if approval was presented by the county administrator as I look at it? The wheelchair. Second.

Any questions? Commissioner Padora? Yes. Commissioner Hetherington? Yes. Commissioner Hatton?

Yes. Human resource. Good evening, Commissioners. We have one item I would like to table at, and there is an informational item. In the District Justice Office, the appointment of Marianella Ferrarola, District Justice Assistant 1, Expected 5-11-26. That is all.

Thank you. New business on behalf of Veterans Affairs.

Okay, I have. Veterans Affairs, what were the properties of the agreement to the person's flag? Morro Bay. National flag. For majority, the flag is used to honor and decorate the graves of our deceased veterans. The total amount requested is $275,000 for 39,600 flags. The cost of each flag is $0.82 for a total of $32,472. There's no increase from last year. The flag was delivered in April and distributed at the beginning of May. Can we check on it?

I'll approve the motion, but I want to check on what the comments are doing.

All right. We'll make the motion that we approved. I think the question asked by the chairman.

Second question. Yes, yes, yes, yes.

We have drug and alcohol. Approval is requested to refund in the amount of $8072.73 from also the problem gambling state funds to be returned to the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs. This refund is due to our current On December 31st, 2025, any funds that were drawn down and were not recorded as spent by December 31st, 2025 will be returned to the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs. Funds will be reallocated and added to our schedule of funding for the period of January 1st, 2026 to June 30th, 2026 via subsequently available funding adjustments for fiscal year 2026 to our current plan agreement. This refund is due to DDAB as of later than March 31st, 2026. Actually, it's also after the criminal offense is done. A motion for the revising of drug law.

Second. Any questions? Commissioner Fedora?

Yes.

Commissioner Hetherington?

Yes. Commissioner Haas. Yes. Let me ask, children and youth, approval to adjust the rates under the contract 2034-442, the Redwood College Laboratory, according to the rate adjustment procedure. to obtain therein. Rates for supply and testing costs will increase by 4%, expected around spring 2025, approved by the Redwood Public Body Poverty Purchasing Program, contracted with MNCBD. As needed, that report has been signed.

Motion is served to approve the children's use of the question. Second. Second question. Do I knock the door? Yes.

Mr. Hennington? Yes. Mr. Hennington?

Yes. I motion to move the bill. Motion to approve.

salary board report any executive sessions for salary work uh public comment from salary board i'll make it quick you have proposed a board of people to do inspections on this facility if it goes through uh which i think is a great idea what will be the outcome if they feel as though Somebody is being treated in humanely or facilities not up to par. What would be the action that you guys could take at that point?

First of all, go public with it. First to the public.

You think they care so far what they're doing?

No, what I'm saying is go public with it and then go to whatever proper department. Because that was one of my concerns is it's going to be in Schuylkill County. I want to be alone.

Right, but each one of them have given you guys the bone job, so to speak, and said, No, we can do it. So there could also be referral to the law enforcement if it's a crime.

If it's a crime, it would be referred, it would fall under the criminal acts.

So if it's code violation, something like that.

It depends on what the codes are. Thank you. Any other comment for salary work?

Let me get quick. since we had such a good turnout tonight. Melinda Divert, North Manhattan Township. And this kind of is a salary board issue. One thing I would like to point out to everyone, like I said before, 2027 is going to be a big election year for the county. So whether it's clerk of courts, Krista DeCasimiro, Prathana Terry, Bridget Miller, Recorder of Deeds, Ann Dudish. Register of Wills, who comes up quite often as a topic of conversation, Teresa Gaffney. Treasurer, Linda Yike. Controller, Sharon Yakinship. These are all positions. I don't know. I could bring y'all into it. Do you want me to?

We'll bring all of them for election too. Okay.

The commissioners. Gary Hess, Larry Padora, and Boots Hetherington. Okay. Okay. commissioner these are what should be considered full-time positions they're pulling a full-time salary with benefits benefits which include shall we say a pretty healthy health care package and retirement benefits you will find that a lot of these officials do not actually come into the office and put in full-time hours. I would ask that everyone, prior to casting a vote next year, do your due diligence and see who's actually showing up to do the job. Perhaps, and just so that we know, other than Gary Hess, everybody is a registered, all those officials are registered Republicans. So perhaps we might need to put together a good slate of Democrat candidates. Maybe we need to put forward some excellent Republican candidates who would be willing to come in and put in full-time hours. I don't know. I just want to bring it up. And like I said, we're going to be banging that drum from now until election next year. So Thank you.

If not, we'll move on to the meeting. Salary Board, can I have approval of the Salary Board of Minutes for February 25th? So moved, sir. Second.

I have a question. Commissioner Fedora? Yes. Commissioner Hetherington? Yes. Commissioner Happ? Yes. Comptroller Yabanchuk?

Yes. Can I have a motion to approve the minutes from the Salary Board session of March 4th?

So moved, Chairman.

Second.

Question? Commissioner Fedora? Yes. Commissioner Hetherington? Yes. Commissioner Happ? Yes.

uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh I have a motion for, do we? No, it's separate. The district attorneys, do we increase? So moved, sir.

Second. Any questions? Commissioner Fedora?

Yes.

Commissioner Hetherington?

Yes.

Commissioner Hess? Yes. Controllers in attention? Yes. District attorney O'Hagan?

Can I have a motion from the district justice cycle? So moved, sir. Second. Roger, please.

Marsha Croninger, Yes, yes, yes, yes. Marsha Croninger, Yes. Marsha Croninger, Russell.

Marsha Croninger, He does work.

Marsha Croninger, On that. Marsha Croninger, You still only have one night in a year, he was up on the high schools. Marsha Croninger, For your every three months. Marsha Croninger, We had in the courthouse over the past five o'clock would require. security force being paid overtime. Larry sat down with me and Mr. Hess said, you know what, we already have the zoning board coming in, the planning board coming in on a Wednesday night, four times a year, have them up in the same night, and that way we have the sheriff's office covering both events and not incur more expenses, more taxes. So I commend Mr. Hess and Mr. Brewer for having that foresight and trying to do some better for the county and not throw more money away.

I'm pretty sure you are. Retirement Board, report of any executive sessions? I'm going to call. Public comment for retirement board? I'm going to call. Yeah, you're ready to run? Yeah, I'm good. All right, let's go through the minutes from our February 11th meeting. So moved.

Second. Other questions? Commissioner Fedora?

Yes.

Commissioner Hetherington?

Yes. Commissioner Kass? Yes. Commissioner Kancig?

Yes.

Chair Geraghty?

Yes.

You're not the chair. You made Sadie go in for the night. Good evening. I'm Sandra Bassana. I am the pension administrator for Schuylkill County.

During the month of February 2026, two members received retirements of $400,078 with pro rata payments of $1,843. One member received a refund of $294. One member received a rollover of $1,208. One beneficiary received a payment of $2,362. Two deceased retirees received pro rata payments of $245. The market value of the retirement fund as of February 28, 2026 was $194,320,302. The market value of today's retirement fund was marked March 11th today, $188,817,613. I have two people that requested to buy back time. Alicia McBreen is requesting to buy back her leave of absence, and Melissa Hayes is requesting to buy back two leaves of absences. And in the month of February, the Retirement Trust had one vested member elect to retire. Thank you.

And motion to approve the Procedural Report.

So we'll serve the question.

Yes. Yes. Yes.

Yes.

Yes. Yes. Yes.