County commissioners delay vote on feasibility study for future use of Lockport lock house

LOCK HAVEN, PA – The Clinton County, at a brief voting session on Thursday, moved to delay a vote on action related to a local effort to determine if the now vacant Lockport lock house might be acquired and converted to some kind of tourism use.

Board chairman Miles Kessinger said several issues have arisen since the project was first publicly announced at their Monday work session; therefore, he said, any vote to seek a study will be put off until the board’s Oct. 6 voting session.

A memorandum of understanding with the commissioners has been proposed, to authorize a feasibility study to determine who might own the frame structure and what it could be used for. The MOU would provide a two-year time frame to complete the study.

The building is located just east of the Lockport Boat Launch along the north side of the west branch of the Susquehanna River. Its history dates to 1834 and has been determined to be a historically significant remnant of the Pennsylvania canal system, part of the transportation system that served to economically develop the West Branch valley.

Also Thursday the commissioners approved two projects submitted by local municipalities for use of a portion of the county’s American Rescue Plan federally provided dollars. These went to Colebrook Township and Pine Creek Township.

A county spokesperson said these were two small projects that the commissioners learned about. Colebrook had applied through the CDBG application process and was not approved due to the small size of the project. Colebrook will receive $7,700 towards ADA compliance for the township park in Farrandsville.

The one for Pine Creek Township is for $7,000 and will fund a portion of a highway speed display/message board trailer needed to complement their own funding.

As for future use of ARPA funds, the county spokesperson said there has not been a formal application process rolled out yet; the commissioners have been meeting regularly to make a plan for any funds they will offer to municipalities or others.

The commissioners, with regret as noted by commissioner Angela Harding, accepted the retirement of longtime county planner Katie de Silva. Her retirement is effective as of Oct. 28.