Commissioners Approve Matching Funds to ORA to Study ATV Trail Feasibility

| April 12, 2017

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FRANKLIN, Pa. (EYT) – With an eye toward increased economic development, the Venango County Commissioners approved Matching Funds to the Oil Region Alliance (ORA) for an All-Terrain Trail Feasibility Study at its monthly meeting Tuesday.

“When you look at our bike trails and waterways, you won’t miss them until they are gone,” Commissioner Vincent Witherup said. “They are a big economic driver.”

Witherup believes an ATV trails could do the same thing for the county as the bike trails and waterways.

“ATV trails in other parts of the country are also a very big economic driver,” Witherup said.

Watch Witherup’s full comments.

VENANGO COUNTY LAND BANK ACTIONS TAKEN

The commissioners took a number of actions concerning the Venango County Land Bank. The Land Bank is a tool that helps local municipalities get rid of blighted and tax-delinquent properties and help get them back onto the tax rolls.

One of the actions taken was to contract with Emlenton Borough for a contracted employee at a rate of $25 per hour not to exceed 20 hours per month to help in the administration of the land bank. The contract will be finalized after a few changes are made by the solicitor.

“Up to this point, it’s been all volunteers,” the commissioners said. “It’s time for some help.”

The hope of the commissioners is that at some point in the future, there will be a need to have a full-time person run the land bank but until then they consider this a good first step.

In a similar action, the commissioners approved the purchase of properties through the land bank to be given to the municipalities of Oil City, Cornplanter, Rouseville, and Emlenton.

Commissioner Albert “Chip” Abramovic believes Oil City is purchasing ten properties and the other three municipalities one each at the cost of $1 per property.

The commissioners also approved the addition of two members to the Venango County Land Bank Board. Joining the board will be Oil City Mayor William Moon and Franklin Community Development Director Sheila Boughner.

INCORRECT ADDRESS SENT OUT FOR NEW CORNPLANTER VOTING LOCATION

Witherup announced that an incorrect address was sent out for the new Cornplanter Voting location at the Masonic Hall. The correct address should be 957 State Route 227. A correction will be sent out to voters.

COUNTY STILL LOOKING FOR POLL WORKERS FOR MAY ELECTION

The county is still looking for poll workers for the May primary election. As of Tuesday night, there were nine positions available, mostly clerk positions.

According to chief clerk Shelly Hartle, one school district, Franklin, has agreed to provide student poll workers as well.

“Anyone interested in helping out should contact the county,” Hartle said. “We will be holding training next week.”

THREE NEW DATES ADDED FOR HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE/ELECTRONICS COLLECTION

The commissioners agreed to add three more dates for household hazardous waste and electronic collection to the current four already in place. The new dates will be in August, November, and January.

“Our dates were sold out before they were even advertised,” Witherup said. “There is definitely a need to have more dates.”

THREE PROCLAMATIONS READ

Three proclamations were read by the commissioners.

The first declared May “Paint Venango County Purple Month” in support of the Venango County Relay for Life being held June 2-3. There will be a kickoff for the Paint Venango County Purple April 29 at the Cranberry Mall.

The second, named April 4 “National Service Recognition Day” with members of Keystone SMILES/AmeriCorps on hand. Abramovic thanked those members for their service and said the country recently received a letter from an inmate at the county prison who stated his work with the group really gave him a new perspective on life.

The final proclamation honored the Scrubgrass Grange in Emlenton on its 100th anniversary.

COUNTY TAX REMITTANCE POLICY UPDATED

The commissioners approved a resolution that updates the County Tax Remittance Policy stating that tax collectors should submit money to the county when they reach $1,000 in collections. The previous ordinance, passed in 2009, set the number at $500 but county treasurer Deborah Sharpe said she wanted it updated because tax collectors would be submitting checks daily at the $500 amount.

COUNTY ENTERS INTO A NUMBER OF AGREEMENTS WITH SIMPLEX GRINNELL

The country entered into a number of agreements with Simplex Grinnell concerning fire alarms and sprinklers systems.

Those included:

  • A $2,850 contract for fire alarm test and inspection and the sprinkler and backflow inspection at the Troy A. Wood Human Service Complex.
  • A $1,394 contract for fire alarm test and inspection at the Courthouse Annex.
  • A $605 contract for fire alarm test and inspection and Gold Panel Parts and Labor Coverage at the Courthouse.
  • A $2,645 contract for first alarm test and inspection with labor and parts and sprinkler and backflow inspection at the County Jail.
  • A $336 contract for Alarm Monitoring at the Sugar Valley Lodge.

NORTHWEST WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD APPROVALS MADE

Acting as the fiscal agent for the Northwest Workforce Development Board, the commissioners approved an EARN Grant Agreement, the installation of safety glass at the Erie Career Link and a Memorandum of Understanding for Rapid Response Grant.

PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION

The commissioners approved the following planning commission agenda items:

  • Review Fee Reimbursement Agreements with UPMC Northwest and Aldi Inc.
  • A resolution to file the Oil City Northside Urban Renewal Initiative RACP application. This is a project originally approved in October.
  • A statement of compliance with PA Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program requirements.
  • A contract with Out of Sight Shredding to provide secure shredding services to the county at a cost of $2,720 on a two-year contract. Out of Site Shredding employees local people who have lost their site and is believed to be a non-profit organization.

OTHER BUSINESS

In other business the commissioners:

 

  • Agreed to a contract with Otis for elevator inspection at the Cornplanter Square Building in Oil City in the amount of $1,170.
  • Contracted an appraisal of the Cornplanter Square Building in Oil City with Oil Region Realty in the amount of $900.
  • Approved a maintenance contract in the amount of $3,598.50 with SBM Electronics for service on the Court Recording Equipment.
  • A three-month extension was approved with Horizon Construction Group, Inc. for work on the Two Mile Run Riser and Outlet Repair project. The new extension runs through June 30 and is needed because of the weather and high water.
  • Approved a contract with McCutcheon Enterprises for Hazardous Material Removal services. There is a $500 retainer paid by the county, and any cost of HazMat Removal is paid by the entity that needs it removed. In a similar action, the commissioners approved a Hazardous Material Preparedness Grant Agreement that will train responders on how to handle Hazardous Material. The grant is through PEMA.
  • Ratified a contract with Industrial Appraisal Company for Insurance Valuation of county property. The contract is for $17,255.Agreed to a contract with Penn Power in the amount of $6,572 for installation of the transfer switch for the generator at the Courthouse Annex.
  • Approved a contract with constable Melvin Strathen for a period of April 1, 2017, through June 30, 2018, to provide transport services for individuals authorized by the Human Services County Administrator or their designee. The county agreed to reimburse Strathen a $50 call out fee, $35 per hour portal to portal and the federal mileage reimbursement rate. The local match will come from the existing match allocation.
  • Ratified a continuation contract with Crawford Area Transit Authority for transportation services from July 1, 2016, through June 30, 2017, to include shared ride in county transportation at a rate of $10 to $25 per trip dependent on the distance traveled, a fixed route at a fee of $1.50 per trip a MATP out of country transportation at a fee of $2.10 per live mile for the period of July 1, 2016, through Sept. 30, 2016 and a fee of $78 per trip for the period of Oct. 1, 2016, through June 30, 2016. This contract supersedes all other contracts and addendums executed this fiscal year, not including the vehicle lease agreement, entered into July 1, 2016.
  • Amended a contract with Community Services of Venango County, Inc. for the fiscal year 2016-2017 to reimburse the Provider $171.85 per completed C/FST survey retroactive to July 1, 2016, to the maximum of $44,225. The rate increase of $8.14 per survey is due to increased funding granted to the County from Health Choices.
  • Entered into five Resource Family Agreements for the Foster/Kinship Care Program.

 

PERSONNEL TRANSACTIONS

The following personnel transactions were approved:

 

  • Probationary new hire of Jon Rodgers in the Maintenance Department as a Maintenance Worker III, SEIU Position, Part-Time, 48 hours/pay, SEIU Pay Grade 10, effective March 27, 2017.
  • Probationary new hires of Christopher Gibson and Mark Godfrey in the Prison Department as a Correction Officer, AFSCME Position, Full-Time, 80 hours/pay, AFSCME Pay Grade 11. Gibson’s higher is effective March 16, 2017, and Godfrey’s April 17, 2017.
  • Promoted Victoria Burger in MH.DS from Service Coordinator II, Full-Time, 80 hours/pay, NEHR Pay Grade 6 to Service Coordination Supervisor, Full-Time, 80 hours/pay, NEHR Pay Grade 9, effective April 10, 2017.
  • Ward Witmer will return from leave in the Department of Children & Youth Services as a Service Coordinator II, Full-Time 80 hour/pay from Non-Exempt Hourly Pay Grade 6 ($16.5351/hr.) to Non-Exempt Hourly Pay Grade 6 ($18.3759/hr.) effective May 8, 2017. The rate adjustment includes 2016 and 2017 annual increases provided upon return from CWEL.
  • Probation periods were ended for Katelynn Madden (Service Coordinator II in CYS, March 1, 2017), Sufana Chowdhury (Department Clerk III in Human Services Clerical, March 29, 2017), Ronald Sadler (Department Clerk III in Human Services Clerical, March 23, 2017), Brooke Gander (Service Coordinator II in MH/DS, April 17, 2017) and Lindsey Strawbridge (Service Coordinator Supervisor in MH/DS, April 18, 2017)
  • Retirements were announced for Julianna Beichner (Aging Care Manager II in Older Adult services, April 28, 2017), Monica Vanderhoof (RSVP Project Advisor, Aug. 4, 2017), and Gail Stewart (Department Clerk II, Human Service Clerical, April 28, 2017).
  • Separation of Employment was announced for Nathan Hannah (Corrections Officer, April 8, 2017), Leah Heckathorn (Service Coordinator II CYS, April 11, 2017) and Michelle Forrest (Service Coordination Supervisor MH/DS, March 31, 2017).For information purposes, the following personnel transactions in the Row Offices were announced:
  • Probationary new hired in Courts of Cassie Young (Legal Secretary II, full-time, 75 hour/pay, Non-Exempt Hourly Pay Grade 3 effective March 23, 2017) and Frank Dunkle (Pretrial Probation Officer in Court Supervision full-time, 80 hours/pay, Non-Exempt Hourly Pay Grade 6 effective April 10, 2017).
  • Probations were ended for Erica Giles in District Judge 3-1 Office as a Legal Secretary II effective Sept. 21, 2016, Luke Behe as a deputy sheriff effective March 12, 2017, and Zach Fischer as a deputy sheriff effective March 19, 2017.
  • A separation of employment in Court Supervision Services of Katie Haun, Underage Drinking School Instructor, effective April 3, 2017.

 


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