Animal Health Commission Seeks VERNON ACHENBACH, JR. Lancaster Farming Staff HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) Pennsylvania livestock producers can expect to see a new, $6.7 million diagnostic laboratory replace the deteriorating Summer dale facility within the next several years, if recommendations of the state Animal Health Commission are heeded. On Thursday, the nine-member Animal Health Commission met in the state Department of Agricul ture Building to discuss the condi tion of the state’s animal health laboratories and what could be done to improve the situation. The result was a unanimous approval to seek the construction of a $6.7 million laboratory wing to the existing state agriculture building, located across from the state Farm Show complex along Cameron Street in Harrisburg. The laboratory is to replace the deteriorated Summerdale Diag nostic Laboratory building, which has been in need of work for some time. Dairy Producer’s At Choice Prices. 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Cutbacks in manpower and full time services at the department of agriculture over the years have allowed space within the building to be available for the Region VI staff. The decision to build a new facility has to be approved by the slate Legislature and governor as part of the capital budget plan, part of the long-range budget-making process. The existing Summerdale Diag nostic Lab sits on 60 acres of state land located in Cumberland Coun ty near the intersection of 181 and RLll-15, considered prime com mercial land. The hope is that the possible sale of the property would offset almost $1 million of the cost of buildings Vv * Y' r , MM f 6428 TOOOJ* KMC* Carlisle. PA PETERMAN POWER EQUIPMENT, INC. 717-249-5338 Honey Grow. PA NORMAN 0. CLARK & SON INC. 717-734-3682 .. Hgnwtolft, PA HitlwW. PA CHARLES H. SIEPIELA, LCL CONSTRUCTION „ . NC EQUIP. SALE CO. OWYYik PA 717 215-362-2510 GRUMELLIS PA 717-253-3334 Wilminoton. DE FARM SERV. 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The intended plan would be to get approval for the $6.7 million construction, build the facility and then move equipment and person nel into the new facility before ceasing operations at Summerdale. Official estimates are that the soonest the new diagnostic labor atory would be online would be 1994-95. That estimate is based on full cooperation between state agencies, including the governor’s office and the Office of the Budget, which currently controls the state’s purse strings at the direction of the governor. Having a project included in the capital budget does not mean that the project will be completed with in a specific time. Rennovation and expansion of die state Farm Show Building Complex was authorized under the capital Choice § 4408 600 lb. Rated MiHlmbura. PA BS & B REPAIR 717-966-3756 Nesdiim.EA CLUGSTON FARM EQUIPMENT 717-573-2250 Muncv. PA BEST LINE LEASING, INC. 717-546-8422 800-321-2378 New Diagnostic Lab budget many years ago, but is only being completed now. Members of the commission expressed a hope and commitment to ensure that the same fate does not befall the sorely needed diag nostic facility. The commission settled on con structing a semi-detatched wing to the agriculture building after hear ing three proposals. One profx>sal was to rennovate the existing Summerdale lab build ing for $4 million; rebuild the building at Summerdale for $6.6 million; or seek the $6.7 million facility at Cameron Street On an amount-only basis, rennovation appears to be the most inexpensive, but members said that with additional problems inherint in the existing facility, the rennovation would not improve overall performance. Rep. Kenneth Cole, chairman of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee said it has been his experience, especially with a specific stale rennovation of a vet eran’s hospital, that overhead costs West Lawn. PA CLARKLIFT SERVICES 215-670-2950 Bethlehem. PA 215-868-1481 Towanda. PA S.P.E. INC. 717-265-4440 and maintenance costs are not sig nificantly reduced and that rcnno vationj can frequently go into cost overruns because of unforseen problems. “Even if you remodel an old house, you still have an old house,” he said. Furthermore, the savings in sec urity, support staff, equipment, energy use and communications would be significantly reduced with a lab wing at the Cameron Street location. Currently the 60-acre Summer dale facility has to have its own security personnel, mailroom and support staff. Those services are already existing at the agriculture department building. “It would be a better facility,” Cole said, “all of it is at one location.” Furthermore, the secretary of agriculture would be close to the laboratory and have a better ability to be on top of developments in the efforts to diagnose and control ani mal diseases. The existing Summerdale facili ty is not a showcase for the agricul ture department, according to Cole. “I’ve been appalled at the conditions of the 63-year-old facil ity. It’s antiquated and outdated, and the physical plant has not been kept up. I think the agricultural industry in Pennsylvania deserves better.” According to Rep. Cole, fellow House member and chairman of the House Appropriations Com mittee, Rep. Dwight Evans, will support the decision. Evans and Cole had inspected the Summer dale Laboratory recently. Tm sure Dwight Evans shares may senitments exactly,” Cole said. Sheila Miller, executive director of the Senate Agriculture and Rur al Affairs Committee, who also served on the subcommittee which recommended the possibility of constructing a diagnostic wing at Cameron Street, said that Sen. Edward Helfrick, for whom she speaks, also supports the move. She said that should the decision be supported and be authorized in the Capital Budget, which appears to be likely, “It will be up to the ag community to press the governor to release those funds.” Cole said that for certain, years and years of delay, such as was the case with the Farm Show Building, will not be the case. “It look over 20 years, after money was put in, to rennovate the Farm Show building,” Cole said. “I assure you, it will not take that long.” Cole also gave credit to Boyd Wolff, secretary of agriculture, for initiating efforts to review the Summerdale situation. “I applaud him for initiating study last October.” Although a specific site has not been decided upon, the most likely site will be acreage on the north end of the agriculture building where dilapidated poultry research buildings are currently barely standing. E. I'M NOT L10N... THE CLASSIFIED LIVESTOCK SECTION HAS BEASTLY SELECTIONS!
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