HOLLIDAYSBURG — Blair County leaders recently backed away from three more potential prison sites after deeming them unsuitable, Commissioners Chairman Dave Kessling said Thursday.

While the search for a site has been difficult, Kessling said there’s no intention of shelving the proposed project because of the current prison’s deplorable conditions.

“I assure you that this board will find something and move forward,” the commissioner said.

Of the sites recently reviewed, Kessling said one was a dump site in need of substantial remediation. The others had no water and sewer services and access would be difficult.

In April, commissioners initiated and backed away from using eminent domain to take 77 acres from Alto-Reste Park that is currently targeted for future burial grounds. The proposal drew strong opposition from the cemetery ownership, those with loved ones buried in the cemetery and local political leaders.

The cemetery’s acreage emerged as the best of three potential sites that TranSystems examined in a feasibility study for the county. The other two sites were less desirable. The study also referred to building another addition to the prison, but didn’t address the related cost of upgrading the current building’s shortcomings.

While the current prison was built in 1869, it was expanded with an addition that opened in 1983. Renovations were tackled in 1990 and 2004 to add inmate housing.

Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 814-946-7456.