Blair County commissioners considering $144 million bond issue

County to decide today on borrowing money ahead of prison construction

HOLLIDAYSBURG -- Blair County is preparing to borrow up to $144 million through a pending bond issue up for authorization today when commissioners convene their weekly meeting at the courthouse.

While a bond issue was anticipated in light of the county's plan to build a new prison, today's meeting agenda shows no proposed use or combination of uses for the designated amount of borrowed funds. But it also indicates that Jay Wenger of RBC Capital Markets will make a presentation at the 10 a.m. public meeting in the courthouse basement. Online resources indicate that Wenger is a bond broker for the financial management firm's office in West Conshohocken, Montgomery County.

Commissioners are also expected to vote today on signing a contract for prison architectural/engineering design services with Henningson, Durham & Richardson of Pennsylvania.

In July, the county ended its prison design contract with GFT, formerly known as the TranSystems Corporation of Consultants of Pennsylvania, citing irreconcilable differences and a lack of information and answers.

The Henningson, Durham & Richardson firm, known as HDR, is headquartered in Omaha, Neb., with offices throughout the United States, including five Pennsylvania locations: Pittsburgh, Mechanicsburg, Bethlehem, Philadelphia and Plymouth Meeting.

The company achieved recognition in western Pennsylvania with its redesign of the Pittsburgh Airport Terminal that opened in November. HDR also worked for PennDOT on a fast-track effort to replace the Fern Hollow bridge in Pittsburgh that collapsed into a ravine in January 2022.

HDR, which describes itself as a leader in advancing restorative justice architecture, references two corrections projects on its website. Information there indicates that the company provided architectural, planning and consulting services for constructing the Franklin County Prison in Columbus, Ohio, with 2,800 beds.

The website also identified HDR's architectural, engineering, planning and consulting work for the California Department of Corrections to create a 1,722-bed intermediate, medical and mental health facility for inmates. That structure is located in Stockton.

Today's agenda indicates that the county expects to begin contracting with HDR starting today, at a rate of 5.5% of the prison project's budget.

When commissioners signed the contract with TranSystems in April 2025, commissioners Chairman Dave Kessling indicated that fellow Commissioner Amy Webster had successfully negotiated a fee of 4% for architectural services, down from a proposed 6%. Webster said that was possible in light of the total cost projections.

In a feasibility study that TranSystems completed in early 2025 for the county, the company projected the anticipated cost of building a prison ranging from $96.25 million to $123.16 million, based on its examination of three potential sites, all of which are no longer under consideration. Instead, commissioners have pursued and remain in the process of acquiring an 83-acre wooded site outside Duncansville where the new prison could be built. The area is located above the former Inlow's restaurant, off Dunnings Highway.

The county has made a $10,000 downpayment for the property currently owned by a Pennsylvania Terminals Corp. The price of the property is expected to be $585,000, based on the appraised value, as updated. Commissioners have previously said that the county has money set aside to cover the cost of the property.

Commissioners did not return phone calls seeking information about the proposed $144 million bond issue.

When the Altoona Area School District started renovating its high school campus in 2018, the district authorized bond issues to cover up to $88 million in construction costs.

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