EMPORIUM — At Thursday’s meeting, Cameron County commissioners reported on a recent meeting held with borough and township officials from across the county to discuss difficulties in finding volunteers for the Sinnemahoning Ambulance Service.
“The ambulance service is in dire need of volunteers. If they can’t get people to do it, they will have to hire outside of the county to bring the services in, probably Potter or Clinton counties,” said Commissioner Lori Reed. “They want residents to be aware of what is coming. It seemed to be a real eye-opener for the municipalities, because they have to provide coverage.”
Commissioners stated that all townships and boroughs were represented. The Sinnemahoning Ambulance Service covers Gibson and Grove Townships and the Borough of Driftwood. New regulations allow for a separate, shorter training for individuals to be certified to drive the ambulance, which may help with finding staff, as the training to be certified as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) is lengthy and cost-prohibitive for many residents.
The county is readying for the Tax Upset Sale, scheduled for 9 a.m. on Sept. 22 at the courthouse in Emporium. County Solicitor Tom Tompkins stated that there are still about 84 properties listed as up for sale, but that number will likely be whittled down before the sale date. Last year, there were nearly 200 properties on the list in June, but by the upset sale date, there were only about 11 properties remaining.
Tompkins stated that there are not typically many bids placed at the upset sale, as it is a precursor to the Judicial Tax Sale held annually in May or June, wherein purchased properties come free-and-clear of taxes, liens and other judgments. Those eleven upset sale properties last year decreased to just four properties by the time of the judicial sale.
“We’ve made a slight modification to the procedure this year to allow for us to continue a sale if the initial winning bidder is unable to come up with the funds to purchase,” said Tompkins. “Because of the sales held last year, we had an over 96 percent (tax) collection rate. Before the sales, we got about 64 percent.”
The Cameron County Conservation Department (CCCD) and the Sylvan Heritage Council are working together to provide more than eighty storm sewer badges that will be placed on drains within the borough. The badges are high-quality, painted metal and warn residents not to dump into the drains, because the water flows directly to the waterway without being treated. Similar badges have been placed in other communities, bringing aesthetic value along with encouraging conservation of natural resources.
The Driftwood Senior Center paving project work was awarded to Jefferson Paving in the amount of $53,890.50. Funds to complete the work come from the 2016 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). Jefferson Paving entered the lower of two bids. Community Development Director Cliff Clark stated that $65,000 had been budgeted for the work, and that some of the funds would have had to be spent to put down new stone surface even if the county had decided not to pave the lot. Paving was determined to be necessary as the location also serves as an emergency shelter and operation center for Red Cross activities, and the majority of patrons at the facility are elderly.
Commissioners approved an agreement with IRM Services, LLC, to provide Hazardous Materials Response coverage for Cameron County. Previously, Cameron was covered by an Elk County team that has since disbanded. Other counties in the region are employing IRM Services for coverage, as well.
The next meeting of the Cameron County Commissioners will be held at 10 a.m. on Sept. 21 at the courthouse in Emporium.
