County Commissioners Aim for June 5 Green Classification

LOCK HAVEN – The Clinton County Commissioners told the public, at their Thursday “virtual” meeting, they are doing all they can to get the state to change the county’s coronavirus designation from the current yellow phase to green.

The goal, according to board chairman Miles Kessinger, is to achieve the less restrictive green designation as of Friday, June 5. Kessinger said the county has been pro-active in getting the county to the next reopening level. He said the commissioners on Tuesday of this week authored a letter seeking the upgrade, the letter hand-delivered to the office of Gov. Tom Wolf on Wednesday. He said a similar letter from state Sen. Joe Scarnati was hand-carried to the governor’s office and the office of state Health Secretary Rachel Levine on the same day.

Commissioner Jeff Snyder said, “We are working every day, reaching out…we feel we are ready…we are doing everything we can possibly think of…it is our priority every day” to get the county to the next level. Commissioner Angela Harding echoed those remarks and again encouraged the public to continue to follow the CDC guidelines “to protect our most vulnerable.”

Snyder said he has heard from county residents who are not happy that employees in some businesses are not wearing masks. He advised those shoppers to express their concerns and reminded them they have the choice of not doing business with firms who don’t follow the safety guidelines. He also encouraged county residents to share with the governor’s office their desire that the county be elevated from yellow to green.

The commissioners have seen some social media criticism, complaints that the county has not been aggressive enough in pursuing the green designation.