Berks launches website to keep people informed about jail project

The Berks County commissioners have promised to keep the lines of communication open with residents as they work toward building a new county correctional facility.

As part of that effort, the county has launched a website dedicated to the project.

A representative from CGL, the company the county hired earlier this year to guide them through the process of designing and building the new prison, unveiled the website to the commissioners at their weekly meeting Thursday.

The website, bccf.countyofberks.com, will be the hub for all information and updates related to the project so interested residents can keep tabs on the progress.

The information will be available in English and Spanish.

Babette Macy, who handles public outreach for CGL, walked the commissioners through the different sections and features of the website. She highlighted how the site gives visitors an overview of the project, a timeline of how the project has come together and provides a list of frequently asked questions.

She also showed commissioners that visitors can sign up for email updates.

The commissioners said they were pleased with the development of the site.

Commissioner Kevin Barnhardt said the board and correctional facility steering committee wanted to create a site where residents could easily access information about the project.

The commissioners also approved temporary salary increases for two workers in the elections office. The increases were attributed to the added responsibilities they will be taking on due to the resignation of the elections director last week.

The county announced Tuesday that Paige Riegner resigned from the post July 29.

Her resignation comes only a little more than five months after she took over the position in late February.

The commissioners did not indicate who will take over for Riegner.

Riegner’s resignation is the latest in a string of departures by individuals tasked with leading the election office.

She took over for Ronald Rutkowski who resigned in September after serving as election director for only about 10 months. Prior to that, longtime elections director Deborah Olivieri left the job a few weeks before the November 2020 election.

Source: Berkshire mont