Members of the Schuylkill County Prison Board took a walk in the prison yard in the confines of the county prison after its meeting Wednesday to assess a proposal received from Proteus, of Astal, Ga., to build a structure inside the prison wall to alleviate the overcrowding in the main building.

After viewing the site firsthand and studying the aerial view provided by Proteus, President Judge William E. Baldwin, chairman of the prison board, said the original plan for a two-story structure is out of the question because the height of the building would bring it even with the top of the stone wall. He favored a one-story building which could house 24 inmates.The proposed cost was $11 per day per inmate. Baldwin said funds from the supervision program could be used towards the costs.This is a program where each defendant in a criminal case, when placed on probation by a judge, must pay a $50 fee for each month on probation.Board members were also told that connecting to the Pottsville sewerage system would be no problem. The board made no final decision on the proposal.Financial reportAt the regular meeting, Warden Eugene Berdanier reported the monthly operational expenditures totaled $340,470.61. Among the major expenses was salaries and wages, $180,707.90; overtime, $18,912.14; groceries, $38,036.18; and professional services, $60,648.22.Income totaled $12,999.92 including $3,774 paid by inmates for room and board and from inmates on work release; $6,890.69 from inmate phones and commissary earnings $2,335.23.In his report on the physical plant, Berdanier reported recent heavy rains triggered several roof leaks in various parts of the prison and the emergency generator used in case of power failure was not operating properly and new parts were ordered. A county roofer was called in to access the damages.Berdanier reported the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency conducted a compliance monitoring site visit and performed an inspection. The warden reported the purpose of the visit is to ensure compliance with the core protections of the Federal Act.The visit consists primarily of reviewing of files for offenders under the age of 18, verify data submitted on the prison log and review policies and procedures involving juveniles held securely who are not certified to be transferred or waived and an exit interview. Berdanier said the prison is in full compliance.Currently, there is one correctional officer and one program secretary on extended medical leave and there are no staff vacancies. The prison population as of Wednesday has 247 males and 57 females and for the first time the females block is over capacity by five inmates.PrimeCare Medical Inc., Harrisburg, which has a contract with the county to provide doctor and nurse services for the inmates, report to the board showed there were 218 inmates on sick call, 62 saw a dentists, 55 were admitted to in-house clinics, and 32 were on suicide watch with no incidents to report.Seventeen inmates were housed in the work release section and paid $3,774 for room and board and $1,100 towards their court costs. Eleven took part in the Vocational Rehabilitation Program and completed 23 jobs and provided services to 100 senior citizens as recommended by the Office of Senior Service Agency. There were 16 community service jobs and five jobs completed for the county.