Commissioners Discuss Improvement Ideas to Jail After New Warden Hire

by Sarah Bader

The commissioners are looking at ways to use a kitchen and a gym at the Armstrong County Jail.

Jason Renshaw, Pat Fabian, and George Skamai appeared on Talk of the Town on February 16 and discussed many topics with David Croyle. They also answered calls from concerned local residents.

The repeating topic of the night was the Armstrong County Jail. The jail has a capacity of 158 inmates. Recently, Phillip Schaffer was hired as the new warden.

The administrative change came after an inmate escaped on July 30, 2015. Robert Crissman, an inmate at the Armstrong County Jail, fled and allegedly murdered Tammy Long in her home.

A local caller asked why the jail kitchen wasn’t being utilized. The caller thought that if it were in use, then Crissman wouldn’t have been able to escape.

Currently, the first floor kitchen is not being used. The commissioners said this was one of the first things they noticed when they toured the jail in January. Jason Renshaw pointed out that the kitchen is in the same state as it was when they jail as built which opened in August 2003.

While interviewing for the new warden position, the commissioners asked many questions including how the candidates would utilize the kitchen and also the gym.

Phillip Schaffer, the new warden, said he wants to use the kitchen and prepare the food on site. Currently, it is less expensive to bring food in than to make food on location. Schaffer believes utilizing this space will give inmates skills in the jail, including how to operate and work among others.

Previously, Schaffer was the deputy warden at the Butler County Jail.

“A lot of the guys left there and got a job at a restaurant”, said Commissioner Renshaw on the new warden’s qualifications.

Commissioner Fabian also noted that they are going to try to tackle the drug epidemic within Armstrong County. Only 3 county jails in the state are going to try this new program out. It will create education and treatment for the inmates as they enter the jail and also the transition process for when they walk out.

According to a RAND Corporation research report, inmates that receive skills training are less likely to return to jail after they are released. They are 43 percent more likely to find a job than other inmates who do not learn skills while they are in jail.

The commissioners have scheduled to appear on the TV show the third Monday of each month to discuss relevant issues of the county. The next appearance will be Tuesday, March 22 at 8PM. The program is broadcast on Family-Life TV and available on Comcast cable on channel 23 in middle Armstrong County and channel 190 in the Alle-Kiski Valley. It is also available on the internet at www.familylifetv.com.

Ford City Council Discusses Possible Newsletter

Ford City Borough Council members are discussing the idea of a newsletter.

At their last council meeting, members brought up ideas and also allowed for suggestions from citizens.

Borough Manager Eden Ratliff said the newsletter would spotlight the town.

“I would absolutely like to feature various citizens, businesses, a calendar of events, and a highlight of what action is being taken by the council, what projects are being worked on, and what do the Ford City citizens need to know about their town,” Ratliff said.

Right now it is unclear on how frequent the newsletter would come out.

Tyson Klukan, Vice President, is a supporter of the newsletter.

“It is a good idea because we are speaking transparency for this council,” Klukan said.

They plan on keeping it simple. “Probably two pages - front to back,” Ratliff stated.

This will be more than just a paper newsletter. It also brings about an online component. “We’re going to direct them (readers) to our facebook page, which is very active right now,” Klukan said.

The newsletter will either be printed on site or possibly going to an outside source. “We’re interested in doing a cost analysis to see what the most efficient route is,” Ratliff explained.

This is not the first time the idea of a newsletter was brought up. Two years ago, former Councilman Jerry Miklos proposed the idea. He said at that time that he was instrumental in publishing it during one of his previous terms on council. However, after a survey that showed only 14% of the residents were in favor of the newsletter and 41% wanted council meetings televised, the Council directed their efforts to broadcasting the meetings.

Borough members are welcoming ideas for the newsletter. Citizens can reach out to the Borough office. The office is open from 10AM until 4PM on Monday through Friday.