Grant Applications and Contracts Dominate County Commissioners’ Voting Session

By Emily Wright

LOCK HAVEN— At the bi-weekly voting session, the Clinton County Commissioners approved several significant items, including a grant application for the Memorial Park Project, a contract for engineering services on SR-150, and funding agreements to support victim services. Notably, they endorsed the acquisition of virtual reality system software for the purposes of training at the Clinton County Probation Department and also secured legal services for the county’s Children and Youth Services Agency.

The commissioners approved a grant application to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) for the Memorial Park Project. The funding will be used for rehabilitation and ADA compliance at the park. The grant will be retroactively authorized if awarded.

During Monday’s work session, the commissioners heard from County Planner/Engineer Steve Gibson, who presented a contract for consideration with HRG to perform survey work along SR-150 between Huston Street in Flemington and the Sheetz/Lowe’s/Walmart intersection in Mill Hall. At Thursday’s voting session, the board approved the agreement between the county and HRG for engineering consulting services, including survey and preliminary design as well as wetland and stream delineation, for the project alignment of the SR-150 project. This comes at no cost to the county.

The commissioners approved a victim/witness Rights and Services Act (RASA)/Victims of Juvenile Offenders (VOJO) Grant agreement Thursday, effective January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025, in the amount of $59,313.00. RASA and VOJO funding are financial resources provided to support services for victims of crimes. RASA and VOJO funding ensure that victims are made aware of their rights and are able to obtain the services they are entitled to under the law when their cases go through the criminal and juvenile justice systems. These funds help ensure that victims receive assistance at no cost.

Next, the board approved the purchase of virtual reality system software and equipment from Wrap Realty for $46,851.00 to provide training simulations for the Clinton County Probation Department. The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency LETI Diversion Grant fully funds this expenditure.

A contract between Clinton County and Stephanie Cooper, Esquire, to provide legal services for the Clinton County Children and Youth Services Agency was approved at a rate of $100 per hour, effective from September 12, 2024, to June 30, 2025.

In closing, Commissioner Harding expressed condolences to the family of Judge Carson V. Brown following his passing. “I’d like to send condolences on behalf of the commissioner’s office to Judge Brown’s family. There is a service scheduled today at the courthouse that we will be attending, so I just wanted to publicly let the family know that we send our sincere condolences and want to thank Judge Brown for his years of dedication and service to Clinton County.”

Harding also acknowledged the Clinton County Conservation District for recent work performed on Fishing Creek in Mill Hall. “For those of you who travel through Mill Hall and turn on Route 664, you’ll notice a lot of work being done in Fishing Creek,” she said. “A lot of work’s been done, and the Conservation District, along with the Fish and Boat Commission, were able to secure a grant to get that work done, so I just wanted to publicly thank them for that.”

The next meeting of the Clinton County Commissioners is scheduled for Monday, September 30, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. The meeting will be held in person at the Piper Building, 2 Piper Way in Lock Haven, in the 2nd-floor conference room. Additionally, the meeting will be live-streamed on the “Clinton County Government” Facebook page.