Kremser Named New County Emergency Services Director
LOCK HAVEN – The Clinton County Commissioners have named Andrew Kremser as the county’s new director of the Department of Emergency Services.
The approval came at the commissioners’ Thursday meeting. The meeting was again done online because of COVID-19. A portion of its public streaming was lost to viewers. Later board chairman Miles Kessinger told therecord-online that Kremser was the choice from a field of some seven applicants, four of whom were interviewed.
Kremser is a Montoursville native, a Lock Haven University graduate and a resident of Lock Haven. He most recently had been an administrator with the River Valley Transit system. His county pay was set at $60,000, effective April 16. Kremser will be replacing Kevin Fanning who is retiring from the emergency service position after 24 years with the county. He had announced his retirement several months ago, effective July 31.
The commissioners collectively expressed frustration at how the state and federal governments are responding to the needs of the public during the coronavirus pandemic. Commissioner Jeff Snyder, who is the current president of the state county commissioners association, said he did not want to see county constituents caught in “the crossfire of the politics about who is in charge.” Instead, he said, “What I want for our constituents is for them to receive the benefits that the state and federal government said would be available to them in a timely manner. It makes no sense that self-employed individuals are still waiting to be able to apply for benefits.”
Board chairman Miles Kessinger noted many small business owners are shut down and have now gone nine weeks without promised government-provided benefits. He expressed concern about how the state Wolf administration has determined which businesses can be open and which closed. He noted Walmart is in full operation but many mom-and-pop businesses are closed.
Commissioner Angela Harding said business reopening has to be done methodically, cognizant of the health of community members. She said, “I am terrified for our county and for our people in our community and the businesses, especially the small businesses which are the heart and bloodline of our community.”
The commissioners agreed to a delay in the due dates for Clinton County real estate taxes, changing to Aug. 31 the discount period and Dec. 31 for the period to pay at face value. They noted their action governs county taxes only, not individual municipalities within the county.
