County Commissioners Tackle Housing Needs, Approve County Officials’ Salaries, and Secure Medical Support for 911 Call Center
By Emily Wright
LOCK HAVEN— The Clinton County Commissioners meeting on Monday, January 27, 2025, focused on an affordable housing initiative that was presented by Elizabeth Whitty, including an application for the Pennsylvania HOME Program to receive grant funding. The grant aims to rehabilitate substandard homes for low to moderate-income residents. During the board’s voting session on Thursday, January 30, 2025, the commissioners approved annual salaries for the county treasurer, tax claim bureau director, and coroner for 2026 through 2029. Last, the board approved an agreement with Geisinger for the Clinton County 911 call center.
On Monday, Elizabeth Witty, Community Development and Housing Coordinator/Section 504 compliance officer, presented the board with information about the HOME Grant— a significant federal grant offered through the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) that is available for communities like Clinton County to expand and preserve affordable housing.
The grant funding is intended to rehabilitate substandard owner-occupied housing to make it safe, energy-efficient, and handicap accessible at no cost to the homeowner. Eligible households must have very low or low to moderate incomes, own their home, have homeowners insurance, be current on taxes and utilities, and agree to stay in the home for several years.
Whitty invited public input on the grant application, providing details on how to submit comments by mail, email, phone, or in person. County residents can send their comments by mail to Clinton County Planning at 2 Piper Way, Suite 400, Lock Haven, PA 17745, email them to planning@clintoncountypa.gov, or call 570-893-4080.
Commissioner Angela Harding expressed support for applying for the grant, mentioning that affordable housing is “much needed” in our community. During Thursday’s voting session, the commissioners approved a Resolution authorizing the application for funds from DCED in the amount of $400,000, including a county match of up to $50,000 from affordable housing fees.
Next, Commissioner Harding presented the proposed salaries for the Clinton County Treasurer, Tax Claim Bureau Director, and Coroner for the years 2026 through 2029, which are as follows:
County Treasurer
-2026: $59,781.25
-2027: $61,275.78
-2028: $62,501.30
-2029: $63,751.32
Tax Claim Bureau Director
-2026: $8,988.00
-2027: $9,212.70
-2028: $9,396.95
-2029: $9,584.89
Coroner
-2026: $59,113.05
-2027: $60,611.38
-2028: $61,823.61
-2029: $63,060.08
Upon a roll call vote, the board unanimously approved the proposed salaries for the specified positions.
Following up on the information presented during Monday’s work session by Jonathon Plessinger, Director of the Clinton County Department of Emergency Services, the commissioners approved an agreement between Clinton County and Geisinger for a medical director for the Department of Emergency Services at a cost of $4,500.
On Monday, Plessinger noted that this agreement is the final step in securing medical direction for the 911 Center. The agreement includes an annual renewal fee of $4,500, which the emergency department’s budget will cover. This arrangement is essential because the county’s 911 service, Seven Mountains EMS Council, does not offer medical direction. Through the Geisinger agreement, the 911 call center will receive the necessary medical guidance over the phone.
The next meeting of the county commissioners will be held on Monday, February 10, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. Meetings are held at the Piper Building, 2 Piper Way in Lock Haven, in the 2nd-floor conference room and are also livestreamed on the “Clinton County Government” Facebook page.
