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HERALDSTANDARD.COM | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2014
GABLER’S CORNER
prison
when staffing is utilized
in a productive manner.
For example, the
current men’s annex
Continued from A1
requires two correction
more than enough to pay officers per shift for the
for the debt service.
75 inmates. The direct
“All we will need to
supervision planned for
do is use the savings de- the new lockup would
rived from making this
cut the figure to one,
a much more efficient
lessening the overall
process than we now
operational cost, said
have.”
Ambrosini, estimating
Pointing to the design a $3.8 million annual
of the 125-year-old
savings.
lockup and the men’s
Early on, the county
annex adjoining the
proposed using income
county prison, Amgenerated from the
brosini said the opernatural gas impact fee
ation of the two facilities and gaming proceeds to
was “wasting” taxpayer defray the debt service.
dollars, while payments
In the past two years,
made to other counties
the county has received
for providing housing
about $3 million from
were allowing those
the natural gas drilling
communities to pay off
fee. Gaming money is
their debts.
not expected to begin
Greene County, for in- rolling in until July. Offistance, has constructed
cials estimate the county
two new wings to its
will receive about $1
prison and added a new
million.
kitchen.
Act 13 is broad in its
“To Greene County
language as to how the
alone, we have paid
money is allocated by
them $1.3 million in the the county, while gaming
past two years (in outrevenue guidelines limit
of-county rental fees),”
the amount to 50 percent
said Ambrosini. “They
for such projects.
refer to them as Fayette
The estimated annual
I and Fayette II.
debt service is expected
“That’s your tax
to range between $1.7
dollars that paid for
million and $2.3 million,
those facilities.”
depending upon the cost
While Ambrosini did
of the project and the innot elaborate on any
terest rate.
specific efficiencies
The discussion as to
that could reduce costs,
how the county will pay
earlier he offered that
for the proposed prison
savings would occur
evolved as the commis-
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sioners
moved
to hire SGA
Financial Advisory Services
Inc. of Harrisburg to
serve as the financial
consultant as it moves to
secure funding for the
estimated $30 million
new construction and
for the expansion of the
county Children and
Youth Services building
located along Old New
Salem Road. Funding
is also to be secured
to modify a temporary
women’s annex, if
needed.
The commissioners
have discussed securing
a bond issue and taxfree loans to finance the
projects but have yet to
ink a contract with a financial institution.
“(SGA) will look at all
potential ways we can
finance (the projects),”
said Ambrosini. “We’re
going to look at bond
issues, various types of
traditional bank loans
and build-to-own loans.
“If there is an option
out there, we’re going to
look at it.”
Commissioner Angela
M. Zimmerlink questioned why the Harrisburg firm was being
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hired
when
its representative had
earlier advised
that the tax-free
loan was the best
option.
“(Susquehanna
Group) already has a
consulting agreement
with our county,” she
said. “Now we’re going
to enter into another
agreement for $25,000,
plus (other costs).”
According to the
agreement, the base fee
is not to exceed $25,000.
Other fees or expenses
incurred by the firm are
to be reimbursed by the
county.
“Two banks have
called me and said that
we really don’t need
to have a consultant to
explore these options,”
said Zimmerlink. “We
know what the options
are. Do a request for
proposal and letter of
interest to the numerous
Continued from A1
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banks.
The banks
will then
come back
and will offer
(the rates, fees and
costs).”
Ambrosini, meanwhile, said that it is his
goal to ensure the most
cost-efficient financing
plan is secured.
“These financing options are very complicated and many times
have hidden fees and
cost,” he said. “That’s
why it is important for
us to acquire services
from an expert. They
will be independent and
represent us.
“We can talk about the
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$25,000
cost, plus
expenses, but
the fact of the
matter is (the consultants) could save us millions of dollars.”
Ambrosini along with
Commissioner Vincent
Zapotosky supported the
hiring of SGA, with Zimmerlink voting no to the
action.
Obama has yet to approve any policy shift.
His top aides plan to
meet at the White House
before week’s end to examine options. And last
week, intelligence chiefs
from the U.S. and several
other countries met in
Washington.
A Western official said
that meeting indicated
there was new motivation
to see what more could be
done, including strengthening the moderate opposition and ramping up
humanitarian assistance.
The renewed focus has
been sparked in part by
the apparent impasse in
the Geneva peace talks
and by increasing concerns about the potential
terrorist threat emanating
from Syria, according to
the official, who was not
authorized to discuss
the matter by name and
spoke only on condition
of anonymity.
In recent weeks,
Obama’s senior national
security aides have also
delivered dire warnings
about extremist havens
in Syria, and about Americans and other Westerners joining the fight
and being radicalized.
“Syria has become a
matter of homeland security,” Homeland Security Secretary Jeh
Johnson said this month.
In separate testimony
before Congress, National
Intelligence Director
James Clapper estimated
there were about 26,000
extremists in Syria, including around 7,000 foreigners, in an insurgency
encompassing 75,000 to
110,000 fighters.
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WASHINGTON (AP) —
With peace talks failing,
Syria’s government on the
offensive and moderate
rebels pushed aside by
al-Qaida-linked militants,
the Obama administration
is struggling for new ideas
to halt a savage civil war.
Extending beyond
Syria, the crisis is also an
accelerating national security threat to the United
States, officials say. And
that, in part, has led to a
fresh look at previously
shelved ideas, including
more robust assistance to
Western-backed rebels.
Officials also have
looked at newer, more
far-reaching options,
including drone strikes
on rebel factions who
might aspire to attack the
United States — though
such strikes are seen as
unlikely for now.
American officials
remain hampered by the
same constraints that
have stymied the U.S.
Chevron Appalachia is offering residents living near the site of a natural gas well
response throughout
explosion in Dunkard Township, Greene County, a token of appreciation for their patience the three-year civil war,
— a coupon for a free pizza and 2-liter drink at Bobtown Pizza. Chevron also said the
including concern that
company wanted to support a local business. (Photo courtesy of the Beaver County Times) lethal assistance could
end up in the hands of extremists. And then there
in the explosion, it would for free pizza.
value being a responalso is President Barack
be the first Marcellus
Dated Feb. 16, it insible member of this
Obama’s own distaste for
operations-related facluded a gift certificate
community and will
military action.
tality for Chevron.
for a special combo from continue to strive to
Speaking cautiously,
A spokeswoman
Bobtown Pizza, which
achieve incident-free
for Chevron said the
includes one large pizza operations. We are com- White House spokesman
company “cannot
and one two-liter drink.
mitted to taking action to Jay Carney said Tuesday,
comment or speculate on The gift certificate
safeguard our neighbors, “We have to examine what
the alternatives some
the status or identity of
is said to come from
our employees, our
might be proposing are
our unaccounted for col- Chevron Appalachia
contractors and the
and whether they’re in
league” because of the
Community Outreach.
environment.”
our national security inongoing state police in“…We wanted to
Bobtown Pizza coterest.” He added that the
vestigation. She referred provide you with a status owner Jim Scritchfield
all questions to them.
update on the February
confirmed Tuesday that administration also was
concerned about whether
State police have said
11 incident that ocChevron did buy 100
until they can get access curred on Chevron Apgift certificates. He also stepped-up intervention
could lead to “unintended
to the site, they will not
palachia’s Lancoe (sic)
said the pizza parlor
release the identity of
7H well pads in Dunkard had given away food for consequences.”
the missing worker.
Township and see if you free following the blast,
Wainwright said that
had any questions or
including to the news
about 30 residents who
concerns we could admedia.
were not home or able
dress,” the letter said.
to speak with a Chevron “Chevron recognizes
The Associated Press
representative received the effect this has had
contributed to this
Mildred J.
the letter and voucher
on the community. We
report.
7 Pc. Bedroom
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Standard Dry or
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Obama struggling
to find winning
formula in Syria
well
traffic and congestion in
the area,” Wainwright
said. “As part of our
meetings with a small
group of immediate
neighbors impacted by
this activity, we have
offered a token of appreciation for their patience
during this time.
“We also wanted to
support Bobtown Pizza,
a local business that has
been providing meals
to our first-responders
and workers at the
well site. Chevron’s
priorities remain responding to this incident
safely. We appreciate
the strong support we
have received from
nearby residents and our
first-responders.”
The worker reported
missing after the blast
was identified by the
Times Observer of
Warren, who reported
that friends held a candlelight vigil Thursday
for Ian McKee, 27, originally from Warren but
whose latest address is
in Morgantown, W.Va.
McKee, an employee
of Cameron International, a contractor to
Chevron, was onsite
when the gas well near
Bobtown exploded last
Tuesday morning, one
of his friends told the
Times Observer. Officials at a press conference Monday in Morgantown said that they
continued to search for
the man, who is feared
to be dead and has not
been identified by the
company
“This is an extremely
difficult time for our
Chevron family and
those who work for
Cameron Surface
Systems,” Chevron
spokesman Trip Oliver
said Monday. “Our
thoughts and prayers
go out to (the missing
employee’s) family and
friends.”
Oliver said Monday if
the missing employee is
confirmed to have died
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KRAUSE’S
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daughter of Escue and
GeorgieAnna Brown McKenzie
and wife of the late Carroll Stith,
celebrated her birthday on
February 11th.
You are known by many names.
Some call you Mom, Grandma,
Milve, Aunt Mildred or Cousin
Mildred, but all call you loved.
We all call ourselves blessed for
having you in our lives.
From your children, grandchildren,
great grandchildren, sister,
nieces and nephews.