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Luzerne County tax-claim operator seeking court order to bring delinquent properties to sale

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RailRiders rebound for twinbill split, tied for IL North lead in home stretch

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Just a day after it was announced that SCI-Retreat is slated for closure and a week after the same fate was announced for the White Haven Center, Gov. Tom Wolf said he &#8220;has and will continue to explore new economic development possibilities for Luzerne County.&#8221;</p><p>In an email from J.J. Abbott, the governor&#8217;s press secretary, Wolf also said his administration will also work to ensure that there are no layoffs as a result of any facility closure.</p><p>&#8220;The Department of Corrections has done extensive analysis and determined that SCI-Retreat is best suited for closure,&#8221; the email from the governor&#8217;s office read. &#8220;The administration respects the closure process and will allow for stakeholders to weigh-in over the next few months. However, the department faces a budget crunch, amid declining population, and SCI-Retreat has serious short- and long-term financial challenges due to its aging buildings and infrastructure.&#8221;</p><p>During the mandatory three-month evaluation period, the DOC will hold a public hearing in Luzerne County. That hearing is set for Oct. 17. A formal notice of hearing &#8212; including the time and location &#8212; will be announced soon.</p><p>The email went on to say that Wolf is proud that while the prison population has declined under his tenure, crime has decreased as well.</p><p>&#8220;That is a testament to the hard work of our dedicated corrections, probation and parole officers, who are working collectively to reduce recidivism and improve outcomes for re-entrants,&#8221; the email stated.</p><p>Sen. John Yudichak, D-Plymouth Township, Wednesday said the combined effect of closing SCI-Retreat and the White Haven Center would be a significant blow to the area&#8217;s economy.</p><p>&#8220;If both White Haven Center and SCI-Retreat close, it will mean a loss of 840 total jobs and a direct economic impact loss of $105 million,&#8221; Yudichak said. &#8220;This constitutes a significant impact on the families connected to both facilities and on the region.&#8221;</p><p>SCI-Retreat has 384 full-time employees and nearly 1,100 inmates, according to the state Department of Corrections website.</p><p>The White Haven State Center is a 112-resident home for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities.</p><p>The state has pledged to offer Retreat&#8217;s employees positions at about a half-dozen other state prisons that are within 65 miles.</p><p><strong>DOC statement</strong></p><p>Department of Corrections (DOC) Secretary John Wetzel Thursday announced the proposal to close SCI Retreat.</p><p>&#8220;The closure proposal is necessary due to the $140 million Fiscal Year 2019-2020 budget deficit,&#8221; Wetzel said. &#8220;One of the most cost-effective ways to reduce the gap between the DOC&#8217;s budget allotment and anticipated expenditures is to close a prison.&#8221;</p><p>The proposed closure of SCI Retreat is expected to save taxpayers $20 million this fiscal year and $40 million next fiscal year. In addition, the DOC would avoid costs associated with replacements of roofing, the bridge that leads to the facility, the boiler and security-related equipment.</p><p>No other state prisons are being considered for closure.</p><p>Under this proposal, Wetzel said that every SCI Retreat employee will be offered a position at a DOC facility. There are six facilities located within 65 miles of SCI Retreat &#8211; SCIs Coal Township, Dallas, Frackville, Mahanoy, Muncy and Waymart. Inmates will be transferred to other state prisons throughout the department.</p><p>&#8220;Gov. Wolf is committed to keeping these jobs in northeast Pennsylvania, and this commitment, along with efforts from the Departments of Economic Development and Labor &amp; Industry, will help to mitigate any negative impacts from this closure,&#8221; Wetzel said. &#8220;I am proud of these employees and am guaranteeing that everyone will be offered a job in the northeast part of this state.&#8221;</p><p>Wetzel also said that during Fiscal Year 2018-19, the DOC experienced a significant decrease in its inmate population of nearly 1,900, which is the largest one-year decrease in the department&#8217;s history. In fact, the DOC&#8217;s June 2019 inmate population was 46,482, which is nearly 5,300 inmates lower than its highest-ever prison population, which was 51,757 in June 2012.</p><p>&#8220;We are confident that we can close this prison and still be under operational capacity,&#8221; Wetzel said.</p><p>According to DOC figures, male state prisons are operating at approximately 95.7 percent of capacity. Officials say that, even with the closing of SCI Retreat, the figure would only rise to approximately 98 percent of capacity.</p><p>According to prison closure processes enacted through legislation (Act 133 of 2018), the DOC must first announce its intention to close a prison and then undergo a review process of at least three months before making a final determination on the proposed closure. During this three-month period, DOC officials will gather and review pertinent information about SCI Retreat, including but not limited to physical plant age and condition, cost to operate and options for staff.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Wetzel </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_wetzel-cmyk.jpg</photo0><caption0>Wetzel </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_retreat_screencap.jpg">
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>EDITORIAL</strong></p><p>Wolf should come here to defend cuts, <strong>11A</strong></p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><videoMeta><p><table class="mceItemTable" style="border:none;width:98%;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-weight:bold;font-size:100%;vertical-align:top;text-align:right;border:none;">VideoID:</td><td id="videoid" style="width:50em;font-size:90%;"></td></tr><tr><td style="font-weight:bold;font-size:100%;vertical-align:top;text-align:right;border:none;">VideoType:</td><td id="videotype" style="font-size:90%;"></td></tr><tr><td style="font-weight:bold;font-size:100%;vertical-align:top;text-align:right;border:none;">URL:</td><td id="url" style="font-size:90%;"></td></tr><tr><td style="font-weight:bold;font-size:100%;vertical-align:top;text-align:right;border:none;">Video Embed String:</td><td id="videoembedstring" style="font-size:90%;"> </td></tr><tr><td style="font-weight:bold;font-size:100%;vertical-align:top;text-align:right;border:none;">Video Caption:</td><td id="videocaption" style="font-size:90%;"> </td></tr><tr><td style="font-weight:bold;font-size:100%;vertical-align:top;text-align:right;border:none;">Video Credit:</td><td id="videocredit" style="font-size:90%;"> </td></tr><tr><td style="font-weight:bold;font-size:100%;vertical-align:top;text-align:right;border:none;">Video Position:</td><td id="videoposition" style="font-size:90%;"> </td></tr></tbody></table></p><p style="margin-top:10px;font-size:70%;color:#555;">(use the &#8220;for files&#8230;&#8221; link above to associate attached files with this source)</p></videoMeta></div>

Wolf: ‘SCI-Retreat is best suited for closure’