A deed recorded earlier this week shows the U.S. Department of Homeland Security acquired the former Big Lots distribution center along Rausch Creek Road for approximately $119.5 million. County officials said the 1.3-million-square-foot building could be converted into a detention center capable of holding up to 7,500 detainees at a time.
During Wednesday’s commissioners meeting, Chairman Larry Padora stressed that the board’s concerns are practical, not political.
“I am not going to get into a debate about the overarching immigration policies of the United States,” Padora said. “We’re here to address the concerns of Schuylkill County.”
County says it had no advance notice
Commissioners described learning of the finalized sale only after the deed was officially recorded through the county.
Officials said they had heard rumors for weeks and made repeated calls to state and federal offices seeking clarification but were unable to get confirmation ahead of time.
Padora explained that the only document initially circulating locally was a tax inquiry, not an agreement of sale.
“This was no confirmation to the county,” he said.
Capacity and staffing
Information shared with the commissioners indicates the facility could house as many as 7,500 people, with detainees typically staying 45 to 90 days. The operation is expected to employ 2,000 to 2,500 workers, with efforts to hire locally.
“It is going to be a 7,500-person detention facility,” Padora said.
Infrastructure questions dominate discussion
Much of the conversation centered on whether Tremont Township’s infrastructure can handle an operation of that scale.
Padora noted the combined population of Tremont Township and the borough is about 2,000 residents, far fewer than the projected daily population at the facility when detainees and staff are included.
“It was designed for a warehouse that had a couple hundred people on a shift,” he said. “The Tremont sewage treatment plant is not big enough to handle this, and their water system does not have the capacity to handle this. That is a massive issue that needs to be addressed.”
Commissioners said both water and sewer systems were built for light industrial use, not residential-style occupancy for thousands of people.
Public safety was also raised as a concern. Neither the township nor the borough has its own police department, relying instead on Pennsylvania State Police coverage. Emergency services and EMS staffing were described as already stretched.
Commissioner Gary Hess said the area has dealt with several large-scale projects in recent years and questioned whether another major facility would strain local resources further.
“It’s not a good situation,” Hess said.
Tax revenue losses outlined
Because the property is federally owned and tax-exempt, officials projected significant yearly revenue losses for local governments.
Estimates presented at the meeting showed:
- About $223,000 annually for Schuylkill County
- About $555,000 for the Pine Grove Area School District
- About $196,000 for Tremont Township
Officials noted the township and school district will receive a one-time realty transfer tax payment from the sale, but the county will not.
Moving forward
Commissioners said they plan to continue discussions with federal officials and seek clarity on infrastructure needs, security measures and how the facility would operate locally.
For now, Padora said the board’s role is to prepare and protect county interests.