SMETHPORT — McKean County commissioners approved nearly $2.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding during their regular meeting Tuesday at the courthouse.
Several significant allocations were approved, including $640,000 for county broadband projects, $300,000 for the Tri-County Fire School burn building expansion, $317,395.45 for change order number 6 of the McKean County radio project, $250,000 for Act 13 Bridges and Trails project and $280,680 for Vision tax assessment software and $247,500 for information technology projects.
The radio project change order, totaling $549,401, was approved later in the meeting, during the portion for contracts, leases and purchase agreements.
The McKean County Fair Association will receive $150,000 for upgrades to the Cecil Gallup Building, the McKean County Historical Society $100,000 for historical window replacement and the Potter County Education Council $100,000 for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 mentor programs.
An ARPA allocation of $60,000 will provide for a Tyler Technologies Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software program.
ARPA funding for infrastructure/blight remediation was granted to the City of Bradford for $6,414.76 and Lafayette Township for $24,637.91.
Keating Township’s application for $8,178.21 in liquid fuels funds was approved and commissioners certified the local match of $111,896 for state financial operating assistance for the Area Transportation Authority (ATA) in the 2025-26 fiscal year.
Commissioners also gave their approval to the 911 Statewide Interconnectivity grant agreement totaling $20,833 and to a memorandum of understanding between the county and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).
Other contracts approved include a resource family (formerly foster care) renewal, a ConxxNE quote for $426,000 for software upgrades at five broadband towers and a maintenance and service agreement on the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Institute’s Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification (SAVIN) system, which offers offender status tracking and real-time notifications when an offender’s custody status changes among other features designed to help victims, law enforcement and community members.
The county welcomed new employees James Taylor and Payton Shupe as a 911 dispatcher and CYS caseworker 1, respectively.
During the commissioners’ comment portion of the meeting, Chairman Tom Kreiner, who joined the meeting by phone, took a moment to “commend the Port Allegany football team for their run to the state finals — it was a great accomplishment for District 9.”
Commissioner Carol Duffy agreed, “We certainly are proud of the team over there and all the community participation was very nice.”
Commissioner Marty Wilder moved to add to the meeting’s agenda the appointment of two directors to the McKean County Conservation District board.
Kerry Fetter was approved as a farmer director and Jeff Holcomb as a public director, both for four-year terms beginning Jan. 1.
Commissioners meet next at 11 a.m. Dec. 31.
