County Commissioners Hold Bi-weekly Voting Session

By Emily Wright

LOCK HAVEN – Clinton County commissioners Angela Harding, Jim Russo, and Jeff Snyder held their biweekly voting session Thursday morning. The commencement of the 2024 Clinton County Tourism and Recreation grant was first presented during the meeting by Clinton County Economic Partnership Chamber/Tourism Director Kira Rosamilia and Clinton County Planner/Zoning Officer Matt Croak.

“We’re here to announce that the Clinton County Tourism grant is now available and live as of 8 a.m. this morning, and then it extends online until February 29 At 5:00 p.m. The grant is designated to promote overnight stays and entice visitors beyond a 50 mile radius to come explore what we’re all about,” Rosamilia said.

Croak explained that applications for the grant are available on the county’s website at www.clintoncountypa.gov under the county planning page. The entire application guidelines, and regulations are on the website and applications can be completed online. Croak noted that hard copies of the application will not be accepted this year and everything must be completed online. “We’re trying to simplify it as much as we can,” he said.

The committee will review applications the week following the February 29 deadline, and will then announce the grant awards.

The Clinton County Tourism Matching Grant Program, a joint effort by the Clinton County Visitors Bureau and the Clinton County Commissioners, aims to boost tourism. Funded through a portion of the County’s lodging tax, this program provides financial support for projects that have the potential to significantly enhance tourism in Clinton County and create new jobs. The program is managed by the Clinton County Tourism Grant Committee and welcomes proposals from non-profit, for-profit, and government organizations that focus on expanding and improving tourism promotion, development, and overnight stays in the region.

The grant committee specifically encourages proposals that contribute to the growth of tourism and improve the visitor experience in Clinton County. They are looking for projects that demonstrate creativity, knowledge of current tourism trends, and a strong case for how the initiative will increase tourism or enhance visitors’ experiences. The committee prioritizes proposals that have a clear plan for maximizing the economic impact of tourism in Clinton County, with an emphasis on increasing overnight stays. Any proposals that effectively convey these elements will be given priority during the evaluation process.

During the meeting, the commissioners also presented certificates to retiring county employees and thanked them for their service. The first announced was Tom Livingston of the Clinton County Recreation Authority. “I’d like to thank Mr. Livingston for his time served on the recreation authority,” Commissioner Harding said. “He was a great member and a good man, and we’ll miss him.”

Keith Yearick, Chief Assessor in the county Assessment Department, spoke after accepting his certificate. “I’d like to start off by thanking the first board of commissioners 38 years ago for hiring me,” Yearick said. “When I first started, people don’t believe, up at the courthouse the building was full of smoke because everybody smoked at their desk. There was no elevator, there was no air conditioning, or things like that. I’ve been very fortunate to have this job. I’ve been blessed with the commissioners I’ve had over the years, and my office personnel, but most of all I liked helping the public and I will continue to do so to help make Clinton County a better place, and the best place to live and work. Thank you all,” he said.

Those whose retirements were approved by the commissioners during the meeting are Thomas Livingston – Clinton County Recreation Authority, Sheila Peter – Assistant Fiscal Technician at the Clinton County Correctional Facility, Kathy Merrill – Computer Operator in the Assessment Department, Colleen Wise – Director of Clinton County Domestic Relations, Diane Miller – Clerk III in the Magisterial District Court 25-3-02, and Angela Black – Fiscal Accountant in the County Commissioners’ office.

Jonathon Plessinger, Director of Clinton County Emergency Services, spoke at the meeting on behalf of the promotion of Spencer Ross to full-time 911 Dispatcher and provided the commissioners with a brief update on Clinton County EMS personnel. “Spencer got training and he’s going to be a welcomed addition to our staff,” he said. “That leaves two trainees, still in training right now. Then after that, we have one open position and then we will be fully staffed,” he said. Ross’s annual salary, determined at the January 2 meeting of the Salary Board, will be $38,750.00 (Grade H).

Commissioner Harding delivered the Commissioners’ Reports during the meeting and emphasized the purpose and resources available through the Pennsylvania 211 and 988 phone numbers.”We get a monthly report from Pennsylvania 211, and for those of you who aren’t familiar, 211 is a phone number that you can call if you are having any kind of a crises or need in your life, so housing, heat, electric bills, food, addiction, or mental health,” she said. “For Clinton County, there were 55 calls in the month of December, and there were 274 visits to the website, so I just wanted to remind those watching and those in the community that there is that resource available to you at all times. You just dial 211 from any phone and they will help direct you to a resource that can help you,” Harding said. “This is a rough time of year for a lot of people; heating expenses are rising and there are shorter days, so please make sure that you reach out to get some help and get some assistance and in addition to that, we are also able to call 988 which is the suicide crisis hotline. So, if you’re having some mental instability, or you’re having feelings of suicide, please call 988 and get the help that you need,” she added.

Commissioner Harding also noted that the first annual Municipal Workshop will be held next Wednesday, January 17, at 8:15 a.m. in the Piper Building located at 2 Piper Way in Lock Haven. “We have invited all of our county departments that work directly with our municipalities as well as some state agencies and our legislators, both state and federal. We’re really looking forward to our first annual municipal workshop to try to strengthen the inner governmental cooperation between our municipalities and county government.”

The County Commissioners will hold their next work session at 9 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 22 in the second floor meeting room of the Piper Building located at 2 Piper Way, Lock Haven. The meeting is also live streamed through the county’s Facebook page; search Facebook for “Clinton County Government”.