‘More questions than answers.’ Centre County commissioners discuss Rockview’s potential closure

The announcement that Rockview state prison is slated for closure has left many in Centre County surprised, including the county’s commissioners, who pledged Tuesday to work to mitigate impacts on the community.

The announcement from Pennsylvania’s Department of Corrections came on Monday, six days after Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration said that it would be looking to close two state prisons to save the state $100 million a year. Quehanna Boot Camp in Clearfield County is also slated for closure.

Commissioners said they were told about the proposal Monday morning, shortly before it was made public.

“I think we all found out at about (the announcement) at the same time, which was early in the morning and without a lot of fanfare ...” Commissioner Steve Dershem said. “I think that there’s more questions than answers at this point, and I wish I knew more about the thought process to make this occur. There are some intense conversations that need to happen as we move forward, because not only do we have the lives of (658) families, or more, but the economic impact on this area would be significant.”

Commissioner Mark Higgins said that the commissioners would be taking near-immediate action to try and prevent the facility from closing its doors.

“The commissioners will be appealing to the Pennsylvania DOC and the governor to keep facilities open,” Higgins said. “If the facilities are to be closed, we ask that the Public Facilities Act of 2018 be implemented.”

The Public Safeties Facilities Act includes a number of measures that are required to happen before a facility can officially shut down, including conducting impact studies and completing a report detailing the recommendations to stakeholders.

The commissioners shared a number of concerns about the consequences of closing Rockview, with Dershem worried about what would happen to Rockview’s 5,755 acres of “pristine farmland” if it were to close.

“I hope it’s not just a land grab,” he said. “I think we need to be thoughtful about it.”

Commissioner Amber Concepcion acknowledged the struggle that Rockview’s staff members could face if one of the largest employers in Centre County closed. If the DOC’s plan is implemented, its Secretary Laurel R. Harry said every affected staff member will be guaranteed a job offer at their existing pay and classification at a nearby facility.

“Although we know (Rockview’s) employees could continue their employment at another corrections institute, I think our role in Centre County Government would be to ensure that we are studying and doing everything we can to mitigate the impact on our community, and that’s going to be a process over the next couple of months,” she said.

If the Quehanna Boot Camp also closed down, Higgins estimated that around 900 total employees would have to be relocated.

Higgins also noted that Rockview’s potential closure could impact other workers as well, including those in construction and repair fields that have performed work at the prison, and those working jobs that have provided food-related services to the prison.

John Eckenrode, the president of the Pennsylvania State Corrections Officers Association, slammed the state’s plans in a Monday statement, calling it a the “misguided” decision that would “devastate the families of our members” and the economy in Centre County.

Built in 1915, Rockview state prison is the second-oldest among the nearly two dozen in the DOC system. The prison’s building condition is rated “fair,” but the aging facility is expected to require $74 million in upgrades over the next five years.

If the DOC’s proposals are accepted after completing the necessary measures, at least four months must pass before the prison can be closed, meaning that the earliest Rockview could close is Sept. 10.

In addition to their appeal, the commissioners have also called on the assistance of state legislators to help keep Rockview open, several of whom have expressed concerns of their own.

More updates on the county’s appeal of Rockview’s closure will be made available at future commissioner meetings, which are held at 10 a.m. each Tuesday at the Willowbank Building in Bellefonte.