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Lancaster County keeps six add alternates, weighs value-engineering as jail design moves forward
Summary
County commissioners reviewed the Lancaster County Correctional Facility design-development update, including six add alternates and a slate of value-engineering options; Commissioner Alice Yoder said she supports moving the plan forward with the alternates in the base bid.
Lancaster County Commissioners on May 26 reviewed the Design Development Phase for the Lancaster County Correctional Facility (LCCF) and a package of potential cost-saving measures identified during value engineering. Project staff presented a list of six add alternates and numerous options across building, facilities, staff space, housing units and operations for the board to consider before finalizing the plan and advancing financing and approvals.
Project leaders listed six potential add alternates: additional medical beds; a work release area; support clusters (two male, one female); a central booking space; dedicated on-site maintenance space; and flexible-use rooms. The team also presented value-engineering ideas including reducing building footprint, altering finishes, minimizing lobby size, lowering the building pad, eliminating redundant electric sources, and options affecting staff and programming spaces. Robert Devonshire, Director of General Services, and Warden Cheryl Steberger participated in the presentation and answered Commissioner questions.
Commissioner Alice Yoder praised staff work and highlighted the long-term implications of the project. "This is a building that will likely serve Lancaster County for at least the next 50 years," Yoder said, arguing for a forward-looking and durable design. She added she "support[s] moving this plan forward as presented including incorporating all six add alternates into the base bid and retaining the four value engineering solutions that were recommended."
Commissioner Joshua G. Parsons said some alternates—particularly work release—are highly integrated into the plan and would be difficult to remove if courts continue to sentence individuals to work release. Commissioner Ray D'Agostino said the board would return to vote on the next phase and the financing component in the coming weeks and expect updates after a Planning Commission meeting in June and a Lancaster Township Board of Supervisors meeting in July.
The presentation was procedural: the board received the update and asked staff what additional information they need before a formal vote. No final decision on contracting or financing was recorded at the work session.
