SMETHPORT — McKean County Commissioners will once again collaborate with the McKean County Community Foundation to distribute $250,000 in American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funds.
Commissioners at their meeting Tuesday re-established the partnership with the MCCF for a $250,000 open grants cycle to qualifying organizations.
The resolution was one of a slew addressed by commissioners during their regular meeting at the McKean County Courthouse.
During the comment period, Tom Kreiner stated, “Commissioners attended our annual fall conference last week. It was very informative and useful.
“One of the things we did was establish our 2024 priorities for the coming year, and we’ll announce those as meetings continue.”
In their human resources update, commissioners shared Olivia Morris was added as a clerk in adult probation and Josh Saltsman, part-time corrections officer, left the county’s employ Nov. 17.
In other resolutions, commissioners approved everything on the agenda as well as three additions, including approval for an emergency purchase at the 911 center, an intergovernmental agreement for intrusion-detection services and a slight cost increase ($80) to a local share agreement.
A Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) 911 statewide interconnectivity funding grant agreement was approved at $54,658.
An ARPA application for reimbursement was approved for Eldred Borough infrastructure/blight remediation at $38,637.
A pair of McKean County Redevelopment & Housing Authority project contracts were extended, one from Jan. 1 to March 25 and the other from March 16 to Sept. 1. Two Children’s Advocacy Center project periods were extended, one from Jan. 1 to March 31 and the other from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2024.
Local matching funds totaling $106,568 were certified approved for the Area Transportation Authority of North Central Pennsylvania for the 2024-25 fiscal year.
Several board appointments were made to the McKean County Conservation District Board of Directors. Jeff Larson, as farmer director, and Ken Kane, as public director, were each appointed to a four-year term expiring Dec. 31, 2027. Outgoing commissioner Cliff Lane was appointed a public director with the district, completing Greg Bell’s term through Dec. 31, 2026. Lane’s appointment takes effect Jan. 2.
A pair of local share agreement grant applications were approved, with thanks to Economic Development Liaison Ann Robinson from Commissioner Carol Duffy. The first totaled $84,620.60 for equipment purchases and expansion of the McKean County Good Growing Gardens (3G) Community Service & Sentencing Alternative Project. The other was for $104,920 (previously $104,840) for construction associated with the McKean County Surface Infrastructure Improvement Project.
In contract matters, commissioners renewed their Zoom contract through Dec. 30, 2024, for $2,495. A McKean County Jail detention agreement was entered into with Potter County for housing inmates at a cost of $65 per day. They also approved the Johnson Controls quote for its Metasys building automation system at $87,185.
There was only one Department of Human Services agreement on the agenda, a Children & Youth Services renewal with Taylor Diversion Program.
The commissioners’ next meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. Dec. 12.
