Union County to house work-release inmates for Snyder County

Justin Strawser, The Daily Item, Sunbury, Pa.
·2 min read

May 21—LEWISBURG — Union County will house two work-release eligible inmates for Snyder County at its correctional facility at the Union County Courthouse.

At Tuesday's public meeting, the commissioners approved the prison board's recommendation to enter into a housing agreement of $75 per day per inmate with Snyder County for work release inmates. Last month, Snyder County announced it would no longer house inmates at its prison due to rising costs, opting instead to contract with Northumberland, Union, Montour, Mifflin, Perry, Centre and Clinton counties to house inmates.

"It's very common between jails to have housing agreements," Union County Jail Warden Ernie Ritter said. "Snyder County called us up and asked us if we would house some of their work release people, the ones who have jobs. All their inmates are being housed in another facility that's a lot further away. They didn't want someone losing their job because of the distance."

The prison board agreed to make space for two inmates, Ritter said.

"We will house them, they will pick them up and go to work, and they'll come back to our facility," Ritter said.

The commissioners said the agreement is contingent upon the inmate having a job and arranging their own transportation.

"It's not our responsibility to get them to their job," Commissioner Chair Preston Boop said.

The Snyder County Commissioners have a three-year agreement to pay Clinton County $3,200 per day to house 40 Snyder County inmates, regardless of the number of beds occupied. The agreement with Union County allows Union County to also house its inmates with Clinton County, if needed, under Snyder County's contract.

In other business, Commissioner Stacy Richards will seek an electricity supplier agreement for county-owned facilities. The commissioners have a 36-month contract with Dynegy at 6 cents per kilowatt hour that's about to expire.

"This (approval) gives me permission because we need to act quickly," Richards said. "We found this way to be the easiest way to do this instead of stressing out."

The county uses Citizen's Electric for the government center and the courthouse, PPL for the resource center and Mifflinburg for the government center in Mifflinburg.

The commissioners and/or salary board also approved the following:

* A letter of resignation from Probation Officer Ginger Aurand.

* Moving Jacob Girton from a part-time correction officer to a full-time correction officer, effective June 10, at an hourly rate of $19.92.

* Hiring of Braden Harpster, at $19.31 per hour, and Juan Lucero, at $17.88 per hour, as part-time correction officers, effective May 27.