Following the announcement Wednesday by the two majority Schuylkill County Commissioners 15 months before their term ends that they will not be seeking reelection, the minority commissioner expressed his thoughts.

Commissioner Frank Staudenmeier issued the following statement:"It is with mixed emotions that I acknowledge the announcement by my fellow commissioners, Mantura Gallagher and Frank McAndrew, of their intent not to run for re-election of the Board of Commissioners next year. Although we have not maintained the same position on certain issues confronting the county and its residents, I applaud their dedicated public service. It is my fervent hope that the three of us can continue to work together in the coming months for the good of Schuylkill County."However, my commitment to work with my fellow Commissioners should not be interpreted as capitulation on issues with which we have profound disagreement. I will continue to advocate against a county prison pre-release center and any program or facility that cannot be built or operated efficiently and without further burden on the taxpayers of Schuylkill County. I will continue to be the voice of reason in the continuing dispute with the County Controller and will make every effort to resolve the pending county audit issue."Most importantly, I recognize the financial situation in which the county finds itself and I pledge to the people of Schuylkill County to be their advocate during the upcoming budgetary process to insure that the people of Schuylkill County are receiving cost effective delivery of county services while avoiding real estate tax increases at t his time of economic crisis. With rising unemployment and a faltering economy, "Notwithstanding disagreements we may have from time to time on issues confronting Schuylkill County, I have not been and will not be unreasonable in my approach to county government or my relationship with my fellow commissioners. The people of Schuylkill County expect professional representation and I will continue to serve in that manner. I have the utmost respect for Mantura and Frank and I wish them and their families all the best in their lives and in their future pursuits and endeavors."Pushing for prisonBoth Gallagher and McAndrew are determined to see the pre-release prison become a realty during their remaining months in office, however, they have set a cost freeze around $300,000 to have the structure built next to the state correctional institution at Frackville. McAndrew believes once it begins housing prisoners the prison will pay for its costs.McAndrew pointed out that currently the county has a contract with a health firm to provide health services to the inmates. The costs is more than $200,000 a year and it covers only 241 prisoners and any additional prisoners payments are on an individual basis. Currently the prison has been averaging close to 300 inmates in an institution built to hold 200. McAndrew claims by taking 100 from the county prison and housing them in the pre-release prison there could be a great savings as these prisoners would be paying room and board plus any health problems the payments would come from their own health provider.The county is awaiting a loan approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and once that is approved bids will be sought for the prison and with the economic condition existing it is hopeful of getting a bid at a reasonable cost.