SMETHPORT — In the self-reporting response rate for the 2020 Census, McKean County is now less than one percent away for the same category as in the 2010 Census, reported County Commissioner Carol Duffy during the commissioners’ meeting Tuesday.
Duffy said this update came from Heather Conrad, the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Census Bureau Partnership Specialist, whose territory covers Clearfield, Jefferson, Elk, McKean, Potter and Cameron counties.
In a related matter, Jeremy Morey, the McKean County Planner, who also is chairman of the county’s Complete Count Committee for the 2020 Census, reported that McKean retains its second place in the region for the number of replies, behind Elk and ahead of Clearfield counties.
According to Morey, Census enumerators are now conducting door-to-door visits to contact residents in efforts to count everybody since accurate figures will determine congressional representation and federal funding for the next decade.
The Complete Count Committee will cooperate with the United Way on Sept. 3 by distributing 2020 Census materials at the agency’s pork barbecue.
Morey reminded residents that being included in the Census can be done online, by phone or in person. Sept. 30 is the deadline.
In other matters, Commission Chairman Thomas Kreiner announced that Lauren Frontino is a new employee in the prothonotary’s office.
Commissioners renewed the lease with Bert’s Acres, LLC, for the Gibbs Hill radio tower site and equipment shelter in Ludlow for $250 per month for 20 years, with a 90-day termination clause and $2,300 interim payment for the time period that expired prior at $100 per month from October 2018 to August 2020.
Two agreements with Penn Power Systems were OK’d. The one for the emergency generator planned maintenance for the stationary system from July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021, was for $5,360. The contract for the portable generators for the same period was $2,665.
A third agreement, this one for online dog licensing with Fairfield Computer Services, LLC, is for an initial two years with an automatic renewal for three successive one-year terms unless terminated. The cost is $1,200 annually.
Commissioners also approved two intergovernmental agreements with the Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations section, for providing hearing officer services and establishment officer services, effective Oct. 1, 2020, through Sept. 30, 2025.
A third service agreement is for Michael Alfieri to provide Title IV-D legal services for the Domestic Relations for the same five years.
Commissioners also OK’d two applications for County Aid funding. Lafayette Township will use their full allocation of $5,165.19 for seal coat for township roads. Otto Township officials plan to encumber their $3,878 for future projects.
Two agreements were also approved with the County for CARES Food Allocation Grant. They are the Just in Time at the Duke Center United Methodist Church and the Emergency Food Program at Bradford First United Methodist Church.
Linda Duffy and Allen Gingrich of Sergeant Township attended the meeting, hoping to learn more about the proposed 700-acre solar farm in the municipality. However, no one associated with this project was present.
Commissioners will meet again at 10 a. m. on Sept. 8.
