CMHS and SVRCS Students Recognized at Clinton County Commissioners Work Session

By Emily Wright

LOCK HAVEN – During Monday morning’s Clinton County Commissioners work session, students from Central Mountain High School and Sugar Valley Rural Charter School were acknowledged for their efforts in assisting with the primary election in November. The Student Poll Worker Program was implemented for the first year by Clinton County Election Official, Maria Boileau.

Through the Student Poll Worker Program, 29 students from CMHS and one student from Sugar Valley Rural Charter School assisted with every aspect of clerical work on election day in their respective precincts. Collectively, they worked over 400 hours in 18 of the County’s 34 precincts. 

Recognizing CMHS Social Studies teacher, Haley Eisenhower, Boileau stated at the meeting, “It was the first year of this program for Clinton County, and we want to give a special shout-out to Haley Eisenhower at Central Mountain High School; she did all of the recruiting and she did a great job,” Boileau said. “She also monitored the students’ progress and made sure they had a good day, so all 30 students will be here on Thursday to receive their certificates.” 

At the meeting, Clinton County Grants Administrator Kari Kepler and Jonathan Plessinger, Clinton County Director of Emergency Services, discussed a Community Facility Grant provided by the USDA. Kepler explained that through this program, fire companies in the county have received equipment and vehicles to support their operations. The grant money will also be used for various purposes such as healthcare facilities, medical clinics, nursing homes, public facilities, town halls, courthouses, street improvements, and emergency vehicles. 

The eligible areas for the grant vary by municipality, with some getting more funds than others based on their medium income. For example, Flemington and Lock Haven will receive a 55% match, which means they will receive $50,000 and contribute 55% towards their project. In this case, the project costs $96,807.62, with $50,000 from the USDA grant and $46,807.62 from the Department of Emergency Services’ Hazardous Material Response Fund. “Flemington and Lock Haven are both a 55% match; what that means is they will give you $50,000 and you would make that 55% of your project,” Kepler explained. “In this case, our project is $96,807.62. The USDA Grant of $50,000, which is the 55% eligible part, and the Department of Emergency Services (DES) has matching funds of $46,807.62 from the Hazardous Material Response Fund.” 

Plessinger explained that this grant money would be used to replace one of the County’s current response vehicles, a 2020 Ford F-350, which has a lease ending in 2025. The new vehicle would be used in emergency responses that involve hazardous materials, structure fires, vehicle accidents, and mass casualty incidents. Plessinger said that the new vehicle will be “set up correctly”, explaining that the back of the vehicle will be more easily accessible for staff to get equipment out during emergencies they respond to. 

Director of Clinton County Planning Commission Planning and County Engineer, Stephen Gibson, presented information about the contract for the Bald Eagle Valley Trail, which is set to go out to bid in early 2024. He reported that PennDOT and the County have set up a selection committee to have a full-time inspection of the project. The project will be 100% funded through a Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TASA) grant administered by PennDOT. The contract through BCMS, for $128,049.80, will need to be reviewed and executed by County commissioners before further discussion at Thursday’s meeting. 

The next commissioners meeting is set for Thursday, December 14 at 10:00 a.m. The meeting is open to the public and will be held at 2 Piper Way, Suite 300 in the 2nd-floor conference room, and will also be streamed live on the Clinton County Government Facebook page by searching “Clinton County Government”.