SMETHPORT — Commissioners proclaimed May as Resource Care Month in McKean County during their regular meeting Tuesday at the courthouse.

Commonly known as foster care, there are 13,000 to 15,000 children and youth in Pennsylvania currently being provided with a safe, secure and stable home through the compassion and nurture of resource families.

These citizens “open their homes and hearts and offer help to children whose families are in crisis” and “play a vital role in helping children and families heal and reconnect,” commissioners’ proclamation read.

Lisa Johnston, Resource Care program specialist for the McKean County Department of Human Services, thanked commissioners for “all your support over the years.”

She said that DHS hosted its annual Resource Care Event at Byllye Lanes in Bradford, in which more than 60 resource parents and kids took part. Johnston noted that resource families don’t always have the opportunity for a family picture, but families in attendance at the event were able to have one taken, free of charge.

“We found a photographer who did the picture free of charge — we had an area set up (at Byllye Lanes) and they all got a family picture. It really was nice.”

Johnston also shared that Ronald and Jeannine Shugars of Bradford will receive an award at the 33rd Annual Pennsylvania Permanency Conference to be held June 18-20 at Kalahari Resorts and Conventions in Pocono Manor.

“They’re really excited to go, and we’re excited for them,” Johnston said.

Commissioner Tom Kreiner said, “On behalf of all of us, thank you to you and everybody that works internally there and externally with these families. We very much appreciate it.”

During the human resources update, commissioners noted that Pete Mader retired May 2 as security director and Bill Crisp, formerly part time in security, was named director as of May 5.

In old business, commissioners revisited a proposed I.T. policy regarding computer screen lockouts but voted to table the matter once again. The other item held over from the May 13 meeting was the awarding of the bid for the McKean County Blacktop Project, which will comprise the area in front of Children and Youth Services, 911 Center and jail along Route 6.

Commissioners moved to accept PV Paving’s low bid of $45,700.

In new business, commissioners adopted the 2025 McKean County Hazard Mitigation Plan.

Commissioner Carol Duffy said, “We appreciate their time from the many agencies putting this together.”

Pennsylvania Counties Risk Pool (PCoRP) insurance was renewed for $252,945, which Kreiner noted is a 15% increase over the prior year.

Several contracts, leases and purchase agreements were cleared, including with Zito Media for $2,800 per month for 48 months, Record Master Software for courts in the amount of $330 and a geographic information systems (GIS) consulting agreement with Kinzua Allegheny Consulting Services LLC.

The service agreement between Potter County and the Children’s Advocacy Center of McKean County will be effective July 1 through June 30, 2026.

Repository sales were cleared for 57 School St. in Bradford to Anthony Byerly for $500, 159 E. Main St. in Bradford to Bradford Sanitary Authority for $1,000 and 3 McCourt Place in Bradford to Triangle Works Collaborative LLC for $300.

A $350,000 agreement between the county and Bob Cummins Construction LLC for the McKean County Affordable Rental Housing Project was endorsed.

Duffy said, “It is important to note this is special funding from the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), part of the pandemic recovery efforts. For several years now we’ve had the ability to provide some rental assistance, and this is all from the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 through the Department of Human Services at the state level.”

In addition to two resource care renewals and a respite amendment, DHS agreements were renewed with Susquehanna Software for support and maintenance, evaluations and Positive Parenting Program with Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services, system upgrade with Avanco, agency with choice with The Arc of Crawford County, interpreting services with the Center for Hearing & Deaf Services Inc. and training with Northwest Media Inc.

Commissioners will meet again at 10 a.m. June 10.