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Blair County officials are capable of making the right decisions regarding the current county prison and perhaps, eventually, a new one.
However, based on an article in the Mirror's March 12-13 edition, some county residents might be thinking that those leaders will need to become more aggressive in tackling the issue than what the officials are at this time.
Nevertheless, it can be argued that it is better to approach the proposed project in an open-minded way, rather than allow preconceived notions to mold a situation that might not be in Blair's best interests.
Needs -- and only needs -- should rule the county's prison decision-making.
Still, county leaders should be transparent about their thinking, even at this early stage when it is premature to actually vote various ideas up or down.
Members of the public should have a window through which they can offer their opinions, based on up-to-date information.
At this time it can be said that Blair is doing the right thing by applying for a grant to cover the cost of a prison feasibility study -- an outlay announced as $185,400.
There is a good funding vehicle in place on the state level -- the Statewide Local Share Account grant program by way of the Commonwealth Financing Agency -- to get the proverbial ball rolling for serious, comprehensive discussions and determinations on how this county should proceed on the prison front.
It is one thing to say, at a starting point of discussion, that "we want a new one-story prison" located at a certain place when what should be said instead is "we prefer a new one-story prison but are open to changing our mind if a more workable, cost-effective proposal surfaces."
Meanwhile, on the matter of aggressiveness, county leaders have provided not enough indication that they are willing to devote the amount of legwork that a project of this scope and magnitude demands.
Consider:
County officials last year toured the 15-year-old Franklin County Prison and are talking about gathering information from two counties -- Fayette and Lancaster -- that are building or moving toward construction of a new prison.
However, there are other modern prisons across the state that also could provide valuable insight on what to do or not do in regard to Blair County.
Regardless of the approach on which Blair County officials eventually settle, there will be more to consider than just the building alone.
Other important considerations that will need to be weighed are an adequate number of parking spaces for staff and visitors; whether there should be more capacity than what currently might be needed and, if so, how much; ease and convenience of moving incarcerated individuals to the courthouse for trials and other proceedings; ability to enlarge or expand the prison easily years hence, as new needs evolve; exercise and other modern, accepted options that meet prisoners' needs; deciding which evolving plan provides the best staffing options and best, safest means for welcoming visitors.
On the issue of capacity, is there openness to the idea of housing prisoners from other counties for a specific daily fee from which this county could benefit?
County leaders already should be starting to devote considerable thought and discussion to the proposed project -- if they truly are serious about making it happen.