Clinton County Commissioner’s Meeting Recap: Storm Damage Updates, County Personnel Changes, Fair Housing Resolutions, and More
By Emily Wright
LOCK HAVEN— The Clinton County Commissioners’ meeting on Thursday, September 5, 2024, covered several key topics. Bids were opened for a virtual reality training system, with bids ranging from $30,000.00 to $129,819.65. Resolutions 15 and 16 of 2024 were passed, reaffirming the county’s commitment to preventing housing discrimination, and Elizabeth Whitty was appointed as the Section 504 compliance officer. The board also approved changes and revisions to grants for local agencies. Personnel and salary changes, including promotions and salary increases, were discussed. Jonathon Plessinger, Clinton County Director of Emergency Services, provided an update following last Thursday’s severe storm and flash flooding and gave contact information for county residents to report damage that was sustained to their properties or businesses.
Bids for a virtual reality training system were opened, with the highest bid coming in at $129,819.65 and the lowest at $30,000.00. No further information was provided regarding the system’s purpose during the meeting. Commissioner Angela Harding motioned for the county solicitor and I.T. Department to review the bids before accepting a bid, which Commissioner Jim Russo seconded. The motion was approved, as Commissioner Snyder was not present for the meeting.
Commissioner Harding read Resolution 15 of 2024, which reaffirms Clinton County’s commitment to preventing discrimination in housing-related activities, including the sale, rental, leasing, and financing of housing, as well as the provision of brokerage services under Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968. The resolution designates Elizabeth Whitty from the Clinton County Planning Department as the contact person for any housing-related issues in the county.
Next, Harding read Resolution 16 of 2024, which appoints Elizabeth Witty, the Community Development and Housing Coordinator, as the Section 504 compliance officer. Since Clinton County receives federal funds, it must comply with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which prohibits discrimination based on disability in federally assisted programs or activities. The resolution establishes a grievance procedure to ensure compliance with the federal guidelines.
Following the approval of both resolutions, the board adopted a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) citizen complaint process to provide prompt and equitable resolution to any complaints or actions prohibited under the CDBG program’s code of federal regulations.
The board approved a change of scope to the Motorola Solutions Contract in the amount of $803,999.56 to purchase 124 additional portable radios, 12 mobile radios, and two in-vehicle boosters, which the 2024 COPS Grant fully funds to support projects that expand community policing and crime prevention.
The board also approved a revision to the previously approved grant submitted by Roads to Peace for funding under the 2025-2027 Stop/Violence Against Women Grant.
The commissioner’s meeting adjourned to convene the salary board meeting. The salary board approved the elimination of the Grants Administrator position in the County Planning Office. The salary board also approved a title change from “Grants Project Coordinator” to “Community Development and Housing Coordinator” in the Planning office, effective August 18, 2024.
The salary board approved increases to the salaries of Elizabeth Witty, the newly appointed Community Development and Housing Coordinator, to $49,807.00 annually, and Matthew Croak, Community Planner and Zoning Officer, to $51,527.00 annually, both effective August 18, 2024. Both salary increases were based on additional duties and job responsibilities.
Jonathon Plessinger, County Director of Emergency Services, addressed the board during the “Reports from Elected Officials and Staff” portion of the meeting to provide updates about last week’s flash flooding and share resource information for community members who were impacted.
Plessinger reported that the Emergency Services Department is still assessing the damage from the severe storm on Thursday, August 29. Many county residents have already reported property damage, and anyone who still needs to make a report can do so by contacting the department.
To report damage to a home or business, call 570-893-4090, extension 3459. If the call goes to voicemail, please leave a message, as voicemails are handled daily. Alternatively, damage reports can be emailed to EOC@clintoncountypa.gov. The information and reports that are gathered will be forwarded to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA).
“The areas that were most affected were the Mill Hall Borough, Bald Eagle Township, Flemington Borough, and the City of Lock Haven and surrounding areas. That’s what got hit the hardest,” Plessinger said.
Plessinger reported that the weather service came to the county to determine whether or not the storm was classified as a tornado and concluded that it was a straight-line wind event with heavy rainfall, amounting to as much as four inches in a short period of time. “The weather service was out on August 30 with our department, and they determined that it was straight-line winds through the Shade Hollow, Renovo Road, and Cottage Lane areas, and they’re estimating that the winds were between 80 and 85 miles per hour through that area,” he said.
Plessinger thanked the staff members working at the 9-1-1 Center during the flash flooding, the emergency responders throughout the county who provided services during the storm, and members of the GIS Department who helped to map out the storm damage in the county.
To close the meeting, Commissioner Harding provided her comments regarding changes to the county’s personnel and salaries. “I want to just go back for a moment and make a brief comment about our plan to try to be fiscally responsible, and with the elimination of a position that would allow us to give added responsibility to staff, and then also some increased pay, so all part of that retention and recruitment policy that we’re continuing to work towards in an effort to save money for the county,” she said.
The commissioners will hold the next bi-weekly work session at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, September 16, 2024, at the Piper Building’s 2nd-floor conference room. The meeting will also be available via live stream on the “Clinton County Government” Facebook page.
