Venango County Commissioners to Host Town Hall to Update Community on Polk Center

| January 21, 2020

FRANKLIN, Pa. – The Venango County Commissioners, alongside state-elected dignitaries, will host a Town Hall Meeting on the status of Polk Center on Thursday, January 23.

(Pictured, left to right: Venango County Commissioners Mike Dulaney, Sam Breene, and Albert “Chip” Abramovic)

Join the Commissioners and special guests at 5:30 p.m. at the old Salvation Army Building located at 734 Elk Street, Franklin, Pa.

With the recent passing of SB 906 by the State House of Representatives voting 139-55 in favor of a five-year moratorium against the closure of Polk Center, the bill now must go for a vote to the State Senate.

“We have come a long way in only five months and cleared multiple hurdles, many imagined we wouldn’t overcome,” Commissioner Sam Breene said.

Polk Center houses roughly 200 residents, 800 employees, and provides an estimated economic impact of $134,000,000 to the Venango County area.

“This is a very important and time sensitive issue which we, as a community, need to be fully engaged and involved in,” Commissioner Mike Dulaney stated.

“Polk Center has been a fundamental staple of our community since 1897. It was the first state run facility in the Commonwealth for people with intellectual disabilities.”

The elected officials will provide an update on the current status of SB 906 and what the community can do to help in those efforts. It will be a town hall discussion open to all community members and those interested in the future of Polk Center.

“The community has pulled together since day one. It is incredible the work which has been done on behalf of individuals who haven’t had a voice and are now being heard, but the work is not done yet,” according to Commissioner Albert “Chip” Abramovic.


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