Commissioners Meeting - Regular Meeting

Housekeeping items. I'll note for the record that this meeting is being livereamed and recorded. Would also request if you have a cell phone if you'd be kind enough to put it on vibrate or silent. We appreciate uh you're doing that. I was uh I was walking down the steps with Mr. Bureick. And I noted that I had a phone conversation earlier this morning with retired Judge David Aker. And uh he and his uh family are his grandchildren especially are in Florida right now. And I said, "How's the weather down there?" He said, "It's going to be in the 80s today." And I said, "Judge," I said, "It's in the 20s here right now, so we can't catch a break." Uh someday we will. Before we do the pledge of allegiance and moment of silence, um we lost a good man over the weekend, Bill Humphrey. Most of you knew Bill. Bill was uh employed for many years by Taylor Engineering out in Scott Township. And uh Bill was a tremendous engineer. We worked very closely with him. I actually worked with him when I was the township supervisor in Michigan back in the 90s. He knew we, as you know, we have 27 bridges that the county owns and maintains. He knew everything about each of every one of those bridges. It was all up here. and and he was always professional, always prepared, always responsive. You'd send him an email, he'd get back to you just like that. A true professional.

But over and above that, he was just kind, decent human being. And he passed away far too soon. And he leaves a wonderful family. uh we uh will certainly be missed. It's it's going to going to leave a big hole in this community. Bill's passing. Now, my two colleagues knew Bill as well and I think it's only appropriate that I ask them if they wish to make any remarks. Mr. Kennedy,

Bill is just a good friend. He over not only through the county but also the Catholic church he was heavily involved in and basketball Newcastle. Bill was just was involved in so much stuff in the community so many people touched their lives. I know when I when I first called him at Johnson to come help me, he was there in no time at all and helped us out. It ended up being a great relationship. When I came here, just come on over in the county. Wednesday, we was in Amy's office. Didn't realize that was the last time we see it. You just never know. Thank you, Dan. Chris, I just echo both of you will previous position and as a county I was just impressed got lucky with commissioner how knowledgeable he was like said question all the telephone within hours he usually got back I just remember when we took the bridge tour last year he knew every bridge he knew this bridge in about another and a half. We're gonna have to do this to it. That great I mean that that that impressed me and like you said in the community she was active coach and it's it's going to be a loss. It's going to be a loss for us at the county level with that knowledge institutional knowledge had his family for many years his wife children. It's just very sad, shocking. He went too soon and we're gonna miss him up here. He was always, as you said,

chef, a gentleman, professional. You couldn't have asked anything more from him because like he said, I knew him from before, but I I knew him more. I got to know him better as a commissioner just because we deal with engineering and everything. And he's going to be a major loss. Thank you. Agree with both what you both said. He was one of the most eventempered people I've ever met. Never saw Bill get flustered. I never witnessed that. I don't know if you did, Amy or Brian or Debbie. I never never saw Bill either way up or way down. He's just always very steady, very solid. So, please keep Humphrey family in your prayers. And when we do the moment of silence, if you please keep them in your thoughts. With that, we'll stand for the pledge of allegiance and ask you to remain standing. Mr. Could you lead us in the pledge to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Please remain standing. We'll have a brief moment. Thank you. I was a little bit remiss. Uh Mr. Vanasco, did you care to say

just a great friend? You know, it's hard to find somebody that was a so good at his job and so friendly and and uh just my condolences out to him. So,

thank you. I'm going to open it up. I I a lot of you knew Bill and if you'd like to say something that's fine. If you'd prefer not to that's also fine. But if anybody would wish to say anything at this time very welcome to sat on our board for Lawrence County social services. So um I echo everything you guys have said and he brought so much different perspective. Um, but also Amy and I were talking when we CDBG when we did CDBG, he was part of my first project. So, um, I'll never forget the wisdom and the patience he had helping some young whippers snapper figure out environmental review and pend requirement. So, he's gonna be missed greatly.

Thank you very much. Did anyone else care to make a comment? I guess if I could speak for conservation, I mean, there were just many, many times throughout countless summers where Bill and I and Jillian would be standing over sites next to Bill after hours when both of us could be there at the same time. And we all our office got to know him very well over that time and we're just going to miss him a whole lot. It's going to leave huge can't cannot stress how much, you know, Sonata mentioned the institutional hole it's going to leave. I just we're going to echo that. It's just going to be a huge loss. We're going to miss him a lot. Thank you for sharing that. Appreciate it. Mr. B,

I met Bill Humphrey over 30 years ago when I became commissioner. He of course he was our county bridge engineer back then. And as you said, just a consmate professional, always knowledgeable, prepared, kind. I can't say enough nice things about him. And then I also knew him through my church. My wife and I volunteer at the food pantry run by Holy Spirit Parish out of the St. Joseph site on Saturday mornings. I just saw him two weeks ago on a Saturday morning helping give out food to the need in the community. What a what a great guy and my condolences to his wife Karen and his children. Thank you for sharing that. Appreciate it. I don't

I get teary and I want to add though not only this you know things he did here in our local community but how well known he was across you know our region like yesterday commissioner Kennedy and I were at SPC and pendant people were coming up to us and um you know talking to me and just you know what a shock it was and um I just we were just here Wednesday and I just don't know how our office is gonna survive with some of things that we do without him. Um, he was a gem and Becky and I could call him and he would call us back right away. We asked him for something, he got it to us within in a minute, you know, and his his knowledge and everything that he did for this count that he missed. So, and I've known him for 20 a fresh call when I met him. So, you know, it's just it's a big big loss for all of us. Well, it's obvious he touched a lot of people just based on all the comments you've all made today. Let's take comfort in the fact I would offer that uh heaven's a little bit brighter today. With that, we'll move on. Thank you all for sharing your remarks. Vanessa, so we can establish a quorum, could you call the role, please? Commissioner Sado

here. Commissioner Kennedy here. Commissioner Bogler here.

We uh always have time during our meeting for public comment. Uh twice during the meeting. One in just a few moments and then one before we adjourn. Uh we welcome your comments. You're welcome to speak both times. If you only want to speak once or if you just hear a list, that's all fine. We ask that your comments be related to county government matters. And if you're able to limit your time to about five minutes or so, we'd appreciate that courtesy. We also set aside time for row officer reports if they need to attend. And uh today we don't have any in our audience. So I'll open it up for public comment if anybody has a question or concern at this time. Hearing and seeing none, we'll again we'll do this before we adjourn. Next on the agenda under fiscal and contractual, we have uh four warrant registers that have been provided to us by the county controllers's office. It's a listing of the checks that they have cut over the last few weeks. They are dated March 9, 10, 12, and 17. There might be a small error under agenda under item four where it might say 2025. I'm not sure. That should say 2026. Uh, I'm going to ask my colleagues if uh they have any concerns. Mr. Sonada, Mr. Kennedy,

would one of you wish to make a motion for us to accept these documents? I'll make that motion and I'll Thank you both, gentlemen. And if there are no questions, we'll ask Vanessa to call the RO. Commissioner Sado, yes. Commissioner Kennedy, yes. Commissioner Bill, yes. Thank you. We have the minutes of the March 10 commissioners meeting. I would remind everybody that uh last Tuesday we did not have a public meeting. That was the uh state county commissioners conference in Dolan County, but we do have the March 10 minutes and Chris and Dan once you've had a chance to look them over I'd welcome a motion for us to adopt. I'll make that motion.

I'll second. Thank you both. If there are no questions, we can take a roll call, please. Commissioner Sado, yes. Commissioner Kennedy, yes. Commissioner Bogler, yes. Motion carries.

Thank you. We have one document that has come in under written communications. It's from Gibson Thomas Engineering there. This is uh one of their corporate offices in Latroe out in West Morland County. Uh it's written to us notifying us that the United Products Corporation, which is based on US Route 19 in Scott Township, intends to submit a national pollutant discharge elimination system permit application to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for the Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plant installation at their facility uh in Scott Township. Um, Mr. Kennedy of course represents us on the forward Lawrence board and Dan, I didn't know if you wish to add anything to this. anything you might want to just they're trying to get the place up and running since the cheese plant went out of business a few years ago performation here by the end of the year.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for your work on that as well. Mr. Sonatada, any comments? No. Thank you. I want to be real clear about one thing. It's interesting. Uh, as I noted, this this facility is on US Route 19 in Scott Township. Curiously, it has a slippery rock mailing address. And I recall reading once in one of the Pittsburgh papers, they mistakenly thought it was in Butler County because of the slippery rock address. It is not. It is definitely in Lawrence County. So, another example of some economic growth that we're experiencing. Gentlemen, may I have a motion to uh accept and file this document? I'll make that motion.

Thank you. Both roll call, please. Commissioner Sanado, yes. Commissioner Kennedy, yes. Commissioner Bogler, yes. Motion carries. Thank you. Under staff reports, uh we do have two. One is listed. One, uh we have following the planning report. Amy, would you I feel bad that table should have been pushed back a little bit, but um please make yourself comfortable. Uh you wanted to give us an update on the uh county comprehensive plan.

Yeah, so we um received a grant from DCD to update the county comprehensive plan, which counties required to do so every 10 years from the municipality planning code. Um, we sent we advertised for a request for proposals. Um, sent out to consultants in the area. Um, and they were due yesterday by three o'clock. Um, and they were just to my office. Um, I just actually printed them this morning because like I said, I was in Pittsburgh Harmony with Commissioner Kennedy yesterday, but we did receive four. So, I just wanted to make that make you aware. Um we received one from strategic solutions. Um Mack and Engineering, HRG, which is um these are all Pittsburgh firms. Herbert Ryland and Grubic and also Michael Baker which is located in Michael Baker has multiple and so does HRD but their main offices in Pittsburgh. Macken is in Pittsburgh and Strategic Solutions also like Cranberry area. So I'll be taking the time to review these, rank them. We'll probably interview with um interview with them and then make a recommendation to the commissioners. Get that started.

Well, I appreciate that. I neglected to note for the record that the person speaking is Amy McKini, our uh planning and community development director. Um Amy uh at what point I know you had mentioned that one of the requirements would be a an advisory or steering committee that needs to be put together. Uh we'll be talking with you about that. Do you recall roughly the size of that committee? Are there guidelines? Um DCD recommends around 10. Okay.

Yeah. 10 to 15. We don't want to be too big. Um yeah. Well, and and you know, my hope would be that it would be diverse from the standpoint of getting some young people, some more seasoned people, and particularly geographically. I want to make certain that that we have certain parts of the county that sometimes don't always get thought about or maybe overlooked inadvertently, but I think it's important we get some people from various corners of the county as well. So, um I'm gonna see if Mr. has questions for you. Thank you, Mr. Sonata. No, we appreciate your efforts.

Great. Well, thanks Amy. I appreciate that. You're gonna stick around, aren't I? I have two other things, too. Thank you. Uh, it's not listed, but uh uh our tax claim director, Brian Burick, asked for an opportunity to give a report. So, Brian, if you don't mind, please. We appreciate you coming down.

Good morning, commissioners. Just want to give you an update on the upcoming free and clear sale next month. That's the called the judicial sale, but it's also known more popularly as free and clear because at this sale, all the properties will have the back taxes and any leans, mortgages, or judgments that are on the title search removed. So, this sale draws a lot of interest. Remember, last year we had over 150 people up in the courtroom. So, I just wanted to update you on a couple things. Uh, it's the sales 30 days from today. It's on Thursday, April 23rd, 2026. Last Friday, the list of properties and this people, a lot of people want to know what propertyy's going up for sale. It was published in the Newcastle News on Friday, March 20th and in the Elwood City Ledger. The list is also available from my office. It can be purchased. And uh as you know, the sale is going to be online this year. Registration period begins on April 6th and runs through April 10th. And there's a link on our county website on the tax claim page for anyone who wants more details. They can call us or go there. And there's a link on how to register the week of April 6th through 10th. But just wanted to make you aware that the ad has been published and we also my staff did a lot of work. We have to find out any uh lean holders and any relatives or any deceased property owners and last Friday we mailed 776 certified letters return receive request at the post office. So we provided all the proper 30-day notifications for the sale and the sale to go on April 23rd. So if you have any questions, but just wanted to remind the public that the list is published in the paper last Friday, March 20th. The list is available for sale at tax claim and details how to register on our website. Kind of a very technical minor question said that the document is for sale, but can an individual come in and just kind of glance at it?

Yeah, we do keep a copy. Uh every day we print an updated copy. Uh, for example, last Friday the ad had 206 properties listed. Since we submitted that to the newspaper, three people have come in and redeemed, paid all their backpacks. So, so as of today, the list has 203 properties, which I'm glad you said that we do keep a list. Anyone can come in for free and view the list and it's updated daily outside my office. If they want to take a copy home, we do charge $10 for printing costs. Thank you for that. You're welcome. Uh, Mr. Sonata, do you have questions for Mr. No, I think it's well prepared system going very well.

We're anxious to see this generate all the forms that people had to come in and fill in person. I've sent them to the company and they've uploaded them and they're form fillable on their website. I checked it yesterday. Everything looks good. Right. Will we know in the end, you know, once it's done? We had four people applying. We'll be at it. Once it's online, we'll be

Yeah, I'll still give you a report right after the sale. Last year, we had 150 registered biders. So, I'll know after April 10th, I'll give you guys a report on how many people registered to bid. Uh after the day after the sale, I'll report how many properties sold and within five days, the company's going to be the company we hired is going to send us give money instead of us counting. money deposit will be sent directly to our tax cleaner judicial sale agent. That sounds good. Thank you, Chris. Dan, questions for No, not at all. Just things are going smooth. That's what I wanted to hear. So, thank you, Brian, for that.

Finally have a full staff and like I said, there's a lot of work that goes into these sales before the sales. So, I thank you guys for supporting our department and providing adequate staff. Well, we appreciate all that you do. So, thank you so much. Thanks for taking the time to come down. You take care. We move on to Oh, uh, I almost skipped our reports, commissioner reports and comments, and we'll start with Mr.

Thank you very much. Uh, oh, I guess I'm next. I uh I do want to note because it's not listed on our printed agenda, the uh Lawrence County Retirement Board, which consists of the three of us, the county treasurer and the county controller. We have a special meeting at 1:30 today in this room open to the public. Uh there's only one agenda item, and that is to uh select a hearing officer. We've had a matter where a retiree uh does not concur with a decision that's been made by the uh retirement board as it relates to the timing of the most recent cost of living adjustment for retirees and um we have made a decision that the retiree does not concur with the decision. So the next step in this process is to bring in a hearing officer. So what will be happening today is the board will simply be designating who that hearing officer will be. So it should should be a brief meeting. We will not have our we won't have Sarah Wilson here giving any type of update. That's the sole purpose of today's retirement board meeting. And um you'll bear with me just one second. Um, Mr. Kennedy has really been on the go lately and he's gone to a couple meetings that I didn't go to and maybe you want to update us. Well, I I was at CCAP last week. Got back here Tuesday. It was in a couple went to a couple different seminars, the big one, data centers, what everybody

got through that. Um, yesterday Amy and I were at SPC's uh long range planning meeting. something different that was new for me, but we've been through quite a few good turnout, but being here all day, so we got to we got some it'll be a busy week again. As Joe says, I'm I'm not here, but I'm running somewhere. You know,

you make a very valid point. Um, you know, we all drive here. We drive, we park our cars outside and you might walk by and not see our car there. Well, chances are, good example was yesterday. Mr. Kennedy was over in Butler County attending a meeting on county business. And uh, so just because our car may not be here doesn't mean we're not out somewhere else working. Perfect example of that.

Yeah, you guys have been keeping me running. So, and then now we this morning we were at St. shows with our architectural firm. We're out there working right now and I'm heading back as soon as we're done. So, we keep things going. That's what we need to do. Absolutely. So, thank you very much, Dan. Also with Chris, new business. Uh the first resolution involves we do this every year. It's the uh mosquito surveillance for West Nile virus. And Freddy Smith is with us. Freddy, would you mind coming up? Freddy's with our conservation district. Now, um the the funding for this program comes from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and u we we put on our printed resol printed uh agenda Penn State, but I you'll have to help me here. Is Penn State involved or is this strictly conservation?

So, they used to administer the grant program. It used to be so the there are certain counties that the commissioner's office handles their uh vector control program and then there are other counties that are managed by either their district or by a Penn State extension office. For a time this was administered by the Penn State Extension office and I want to say within the last three or four years it was switched to us and it's changed hands a couple times but so they used to administer it which is why there's probably a public record or a office record of some kind that shows that in there. Well, I'll take the blame on this one because I'm first of all, I'm on the conservation board. Should have known. Uh secondly, I've been here a little bit longer than my two colleagues and wouldn't expect them necessarily. So, it's my fault it didn't say conservation.

We're next door neighbors anyway, so it doesn't really matter that much, but but yeah, let the record show that that should read conservation district. And with that, uh what number is this resolution? 39. 39. Uh, Freddy, do you want to give us a little bit of background as to what this resolution does? I I'm assuming you have a copy of it.

Yes, I Yeah, I brought the copy down. Um, it's just a repeat of the seasonal employment agreement for Dennis Stitch, who is the vector management technician. So, it is a repeat basically of last year. So, last year showed a salary increase for him based on an increase in the grant we received from EP. So, again, his pay is all fully grant funded. It's just reimbursement based. So it comes from the county and then reimbursed at the end of the season here. Um we got an increase for him last year. There's no change in his pay from last year to this year because of the significant increase from years prior to last year. Um the mileage rate I think may need updated because these are usually his agreement is usually written before we are aware of the change but it might be up to date now but I think I cannot recall if it's behind or not. The resolution simply states that the mileage would be at the current standing IRS rate. What is that? 72 and a half.

The contract does say 72 and a half. So that that would I mean our budget accommodates that. It's not going to be a problem. But we changed that just because we we tended to draft you know his seasonal contract and then the change would come out in January or something and so we would amend it at least few days easier this way. But um it's we have our grant agreement. D is still finishing their end of the grant agreement that they awarded to us in January. I think we've already signed. I think you got your signatory back then. It's a little late for them, but they're still, you know, we've been awarded our grant. So, um it's again not not big change from last year to this year. Just his seasonal and then his employment will be ending at the end of October.

Well, thank you for all those helpful details. I'm gonna see if Commissioner Kennedy has any questions. No, I just met Dennis Stitch years ago. He was in Marty Park and I said he was down there with a bucket doing some stuff and went down to see what he was up to and he told me what he was doing. Glad to have him there. Keep people safe. Thank you, Chris. I just very thorough and we appreciate it. Thank you so much, Freddy. Thanks to you. Uh, gentlemen, would one of you wish to make a motion for resolution 39?

I'll make I'll second that motion. Thank you. And again, what we're doing here is entering entering into an agreement with Kenneth Stitch to conduct mosquito surveillance in the county for the West virus. Uh, we have a motion, a second. If there are no other concerns, we'll ask Vanessa to call the role. Commissioner San. Yes. Commissioner Kennedy. Yes. Commissioner, yes. Motion carries. Freddy, good to see you as always.

I want to I want to give a shout out, Freddy, real quick. Uh, one of your major responsibilities at the conservation district is the low volume and dirt and gravel road program. And you've been all over. you you've worked in conjunction with uh some of our local municipalities, Suki Rock Township, Wilmington Township, New Bever Burough, and I'm probably missing a couple. Uh but uh the end result of your work, you know, you you were involved with the Philips School Road Bridge, I believe, in Wilmington

extensively. uh out of McConnell's Mill State Park. One of the roads that goes through there is owned and maintained by Swift Rock Township even though it's within the park boundaries and made significant enhancement to that road. It's the one that goes around all the boulders out there, but um and and uh Muddy Creek Road as well out in Slippery Rock Township. And I I think in the near future you'll be working more and more down in New Beaver Burough. And there's probably some others that I have forgotten, but I want to thank you. You you really uh done a tremendous job. Thank you.

No, no, you deserve you deserve the thanks. And I'm sure my colleagues agree. Dan Dan saw it firsthand with the bridge. You you've done a tremendous job out there and they appreciate especially the guy that was doing all the excavating. He kept telling me you better keep that kid employed there. So, we appreciate it. Thanks Freddie. Thank you. The next item number resolution 40 comes to us from Lawrence County Social Services and Vanessa Lovely is with us today. Hi Vanessa. Hi. Good. Thank you. We're always glad to see you. Thank you. Likewise.

You're here to talk about the senior citizen nutritional shopping program which I think once a year we do this. It's that time of year.

It is. and I'm a little late this year, so please pardon my uh untimeliness to some degree. Um, but yes, I'm here to request your approval to continue the program into 2026. Um, and just a quick kind of reminder of what the program is. Um, on our AX buses, our senior citizens age 65 and over already get an 85% discount to ride anywhere they would like to go. Well, it can still cost a few dollars per trip. And for a lot of our seniors, um, without this program, which reduces their cost to $1 per trip for grocery shopping, farmers markets, and, um, food pantries, uh, they found themselves just not going to the grocery stores often, not having access to fresh, you know, vegetables and and meat and whatnot. So, um, you all started this wonderful program years ago, at least 10 years now it's been going on, and I'd like to ask that we continue it into the new year. Um, we are seeing an uptick in just general all of the trips on Axe, but specifically our seniors. So, um, I underproed for 2025. we actually provided um almost 900 more trips than I projected, which had a cost of just shy of $1,700. So um if if it's permissible, I'd like to request um $9,381. That would be uh the deficit from 2025. And then u assuming the same type of service needs this year, um that would be that total. But I'd also like to mention that if that's becoming if this grant's becoming too large, we can look at a way to kind of constrain the number of trips or if there's something else

that that we can do because we don't want to lose the program. So, well, and I appreciate, you know, you presenting it in that manner. Anytime we have an issue involved with what it might do as far as our county budget is concerned, we look to this gentleman. We ask him, is this something we can accommodate? And that's certainly

Thank you. Thank you. And along those lines then, let me see if Mr. Sonata has any questions. I think when job I know to us two years ago gave us a thorough provided good services to our community especially our seniors I think that's what we say it can be cost efficient if we got the healthy food

thank you Mr. Kennedy, thank you. One final quick question for you. As part of your overall budget for this program, obviously it takes fuel to run the vehicles and and and you know, beginning of the year, no one foresaw the fact that gas would be up about a dollar a gallon. You factored that into this or is this something maybe we can address? And may hopefully what'll happen is the price of fuel is going to come back down. Hopefully this is a spike and at the end of the day, hopefully sooner rather than later, we'll see those prices come down and stabilize. But is that factored into your your budget?

No. No. Um the the fairs that we charge are the same. They're built on the PennDOT shared ride fair structure, which is fancy for it's what we charge everybody for a trip. So, for example, the real cost of the trip for someone going to Walmart or food pantry might actually be $13.25 or $17.50. Um, and we're billing 85% of that back to the PENDOT lottery fund. And then the 15% um would be entirely the passengers, the seniors responsibility. But because of this program, it's it's limiting the senior's portion even more. So long term, we may have to consider a fair increase. We haven't had one in a long time, but we would we're not doing anything specific for this program or anything near term.

I thank you for that. Having the fact you said more, Dan, any other questions? press anything. This is resolution 40 that would uh allow for the county to contribute $9,381 as part of the required local co-ayment for the senior citizen uh nutritional shopping program that is administered through specifically the allied coordinated transportation services. Gentlemen, would one of you wish to make a motion for this uh proposal? I'll make a motion. Second. Thank you both. And if there are no other questions, we'll ask Vanessa to call the Commissioner Sinado. Yes. Commissioner Kennedy.

Yes. Commissioner Bogler. Yes. Motion carries. Thanks so much, Vanessa. Always nice to have you here. Thank you. Thank you. Take care.

The next item is number 41. Actually, we have two items from the planning office. Amy McKini is back for us. Appreciate you're sticking around. It looks like number 41. We're making a uh perhaps a technical correction or an amendment to uh resolution 2026-33 that was approved two weeks ago. Uh can you tell us what it is we're doing here? Yeah. The um so this is an application we're making the department of community economic development for the municipal assistance plan municipal assistance program um to match our DCNR grant we got um in the original uh resolution I didn't um identify that it was we're requesting 25,000 um from DCB and 11,000 will be the the county's commitment. The DC&R request was uh we we had committed 36,000 of the county funds. We were awarded that and then we were I was made aware by my grant manager at DCD that we would we could apply for this to decrease the county's match. So that's what this is doing. We're requesting 25,000 in the DCD and showing that um the county will still be contributing at a portion of general funds

which according to this 11,000. Yep. And and if I'm reading this correctly, this is specific to the phase 2 master site plan at the Quaker Falls facility in Mahoney Township, right? Yep. And then and again, we've received 36,000 from DCNR, the C2P2 program. So, very good. Thank you, Mr. Kennedy. If you have questions for Thank you, Chris. Any questions? Okay. Thank you. May I have a motion for resolution 41? I'll make that motion. I'll second the motion. Gentlemen, I thank you both. And if there is no other discussion, uh Vanessa, call the role, please. Commissioner Sado, yes. Commissioner Kennedy, yes. Commissioner Bogler, yes.

Motion carries. Thank you. Um, resolution 42. Now that I'm looking more closely at it, does this fall under you or does this fall under Jennifer?

Well, I suppose we're together. We're we're we're a team on this one. So the and this is a pass through grant. This is a pass through grant. The county was the applicant to the department of um housing and urban housing urban development. Um this would be the third or this well that I've been involved this third one I think that maybe I've been really involved in. Uh so this is a 2025 um le um healthy homes initiative service that the county will be working with um Lawrence County Community Action Partnership, Lawrence County Community Lawrence County Social Services. Um and it's agreement that we enter into with them every time. It's a little bit different this time. is 2025. HUD is requiring um basically that the counties have a little bit more hands-on with the program, which is fine. So, Jen, myself, and Rebecca have been working very closely together. We actually have a call here at 11 for a startup with the grant. Rebecca will be attending a training in uh Arlington, Virginia in April. Jennifer will be going as well as on to her staff uh Holly and Ryan. So this um the majority of the funds will be passed right through to uh Jen's department. Um the county will be holding some funds that reimbursement for the travel. Rebecca and I's time to do the draws that we do. Um and that's all spot out in the grant agreement. We met earlier with Dave Preston to get everything set up in Munice. So we we can account for everything as well too. So you want to add anything?

Uh you made me feel old. This is our seventh grant um and standing over since 2006. So I was like geez that's 20 years coming here and saying thank you for your support. So, uh, the lead hazard control grant helps individuals who are low than water income, um, with families with children under the age of six. The goal is to remediate lead hazard, um, in lead based paint. And one of the cool things about this program is you have supported it to be regional so that the county of Lawrence can be competitive in a national setting. Uh so this round here we have seven counties Lawrence Butler, Mercer, Indiana, Delaware County and Crawford. So kind of redeveloped um some partnerships through DCD CD&H group who does housing because a match is required. So those people um municipalities bring match to the table. uh four-year grant. Um we are gonna do it's 5.7 5,750,000 this time because it's expanded in the years. 120 lead safe units and they set aside that $750,000 for healthy homes. So those are things that are usually outside of lead based paint, slip, strips, falls, water, um like gutters and downspouts, roofs. So 40 of the 120 homes will get the healthy home supplement as well. Um Lawrence County is we're projecting to have 50 62 units. I think it's 62

62 or 67. We always get that number. 62 units will stay inside of the county. The other units will be partnered with um other municipalities and community actions. So you you'll be seeing some papers coming your way to sign Bugler as the chair from like to do the ERR the environmental reviews for Butler County for you know so we're working very closely with those um groups right now to get their approval. Yeah. And I want to thank you and your staff you and your staff Vanessa. Yeah.

Because I I I think you probably are doing some things that technically I should be doing. Maybe not. But thank you for that. A lot of this is very very technical. It is. You've always helped me. So, thank God's very specific on how they want things and how they want it done. And so, I Jen and I, you know, hats off to her and her staff. They're fantastic. And this is a tremendous program that they've been doing um not just for our county, but other counties. And the other counties wouldn't be able to do it if it wasn't for them. Right. Exactly. and for you supporting it regional. It's not always easy to take that on.

Um, so we appreciate that and I know the other counties do as well. And thank Vanessa because she keeps us on our toes. Absolutely. Well, uh, I'll see if Mr. Kennedy has questions. No, I'd have a comment, but you don't want to hear. You can go ahead. That's all the extra dollars he gets for being chairman. We got three great people that help people. What else could you ask? You're absolutely right. You are absolutely right. Uh thank you Dan. Mr. Sonata, both of you do a fine job. We appreciate your efforts.

Well, uh given that Thank you, Chris. Given that this resolution notes that Florence County Social Services would be awarded the lead HHI contract, as you noted, it's four-year contract. This this will be completed by July 16, 2030. Uh so you two will be here to see that happen. So that's the nature of this or the gist of this uh proposal. May I have a motion for resolution 42? I'll make that motion. I'll second. Thank you. And if there are no other questions, we'll ask Vanessa to call the role. Commissioner Sordo, yes. Commissioner Kennedy, yes. Commissioner, yes. Motion carries. Ladies, thank you both so much.

Thank you. We appreciate it. Next on the agenda is our public safety department and Chad Stroble, our director, is with us. And uh today Chad has a proposed agreement with the Butler County hazardous materials response team. So I'll let you get settled in and you can you can give us all the specifics. First, I'll start technician working at a tower. He plugs something notifies. So

you have to have to leave. I did not know he was coming today, so he's ahead of schedule. But um today I'm asking um your support in entering a contract with county hazardous materials response team. Uh be a one-year contract for them to pro provide us emergency response for hazardous materials incidents. Act 165 Pennsylvania, it's the um emergency planning and um response act states. Every county has to have within their county or contract with a state certified hazards materials response team. Historically, we've been with McCutchen Enterprises. Um they had a very large increase in our annual retainer. This year went from 2500 to $7,500 unannounced overnight. And we've only called in twice in the 20 years that I've been here. So,

forgive me for an argument, but you you came to one of our meetings and made us aware of this because I believe you did. Second time I think I've heard by email, I'd let you know when we started the negotiations. I mentioned it, I believe. So, I'm not surprised right you're advising us against by what format. I'm not sure. Thank you for keeping us. Sorry to interrupt you.

Oh, that's okay. But um after um discussing with director Vice House from Butler County um he offered the services 13. This will be again a one-year contract. The retainer fee will be $2,500 which would come out of our 165 funding the chemical facility reporting funding and our annual um grant hazardous materials emergency response grant. So it will be paid for out of grant money and we'll use this year where they're um retained provide services to work out a future arrangement for 2027. We're looking at integrating our county first responders to assist them more in that materials field so that we have boots on the ground prior to them getting here from Butler. Now state says they have to have somebody here within two hours. We're using the catching and Apollo. They have eight person here in two hours. So they're not real picky on how long, but they will be well within that two-hour time limit. They'll meet all check all the boxes for the state and will be in line with the 65 requirements by using public.

Well, thank you. I appreciate, you know, the work you put into developing this and helps three of us have a good working relationship with our three Butler County colleagues. They're good people. We work well together. Uh I'll turn it over to Mr. Sonata for any questions. I have Thank you, Chris. Mr. Kennedy. Thank you. So, you are recommending this to us, uh, resolution 43 that would, uh, allow the county to enter into this agreement with the Butler County Hazardous Materials Response Team. Uh, may I have a motion for resolution 43? I'll make that motion.

I'll second motion. Thank you, gentlemen. Any concerns? Hearing none, uh, we'll ask Vanessa. Commissioner Fado, yes. Commissioner Kennedy, yes. Commissioner, yes. Motion carries. Chad, thanks for stopping over. Stay safe. Thank you. Take care. Thanks. You too. Mental Health and Developmental Services. Scott Baldwin, the director of that office is with us today. And Scott, uh, thank you for your patience this morning.

Appreciate you being here. Uh resolution 44 would be a an agreement with uh North View Estates Limited Partnership. Can you give us a little bit of background on who they are, what they do, and what the nature of the agreement is?

Yeah, so Northview Estates is a personal care home in Delwood City. Uh we have a contract with them this fiscal year. Uh it's a personal care home where our members will stay and uh we've had more referrals this year than we anticipated. So, we're uh just asking to increase their budget from um $65,000 adding 25 to it to a new contract amount of $95,000. Those will be paid out of human services block rate funding, which would be another additional cost to the answers. So, thank you. And of course, uh, being the oldtimer that I am, I think that facility many, many, many years ago was the old Elwood City Hospitals. It's up on Border Avenue.

It does. It's a long time ago that was the Elwood City Hospital before they moved over to Walnut Ridge area. But anyhow, I digress and I'll see if Mr. Kennedy has any questions. Mr. Sonata, uh, we'll take a a motion then, please. I'll make the motion. I'll second. Thank you, gentlemen. Vanessa, could you call the role for resolution 44? Commissioner Sanado? Yes. Commissioner Kennedy? Yes. Commissioner Rosler? Yes. Motion carries.

Thank you. Resolution 45. Uh, this is an agreement with Community Alternatives. Uh, they're based here in county, are they not? C. Can you give us some background on this one, please?

So, Lawrence County, we have three mental health clinics. Community Alternatives is one of them located in Union Township off Scotland Lane. Uh they provide several services for us. The one that u has been the busiest is uh this mobile stabilization team. The referrals have dramatically increased. We've added additional staff this year which we anticipating. So, we're looking to increase that contract this fiscal year from 180 thou 80,000 adding 120 to it with a new total of 300,000. Again, that would be paid out of the human services block grant funding at no cost to the county. And it's a program that serves some of our most complex cases in the community with the goal of reducing hospitalizations and incarceration. So, it's been it's been a great program. weren't happy with giving the alternatives and the services they were providing. So,

thank you. Uh, Scott, I maybe it didn't click with me. Do you have the resolution in front of you? I have a copy of the budget. Um, could you read item one and make sure because I heard the figure 180. Can you make certain that item one is is stated accurately? Yeah, the 120 is the that's correct. So the 120 in the resolution is correct. So you're you're asking for an adjustment of 180. Uh adjustment of 120. I'm sorry. I mean the numbers mixed up. Yeah. Or maybe I'm missing something. The amended contract amount will be 120,000.

Okay. And that's so it's stated appro stated properly. Yeah. That's understood and agreed that it says here the stated maximum of 120 shall be adjusted to 300. Yeah. So that's correct. That's correct. Okay. Okay. That's fine. When the 180 threw me for a loop. So I I do apologize. Let me see if Mr. Sonata has any questions. Thank you, Mr. Kennedy. And and again, thank you for my benefit for clarifying that that language is correct. Gentlemen, this is resolution 45. May I have a motion? I'll make a motion. I'll second the motion. Thank you both. If there are no other concerns, we'll ask for a roll call, please. Commissioner Sado, yes. Commissioner Kennedy, yes. Commissioner Vogler, yes.

Motion carries. Scott, always nice to have you. Take care.

Proposed resolution 46 and and we've been doing this for many, many years, and it's it's it's certainly for me, and I'm sure for Dan and Chris, it's a pleasure to do this. Pennsylvania law allows counties to implement an increase in fees for deeds and mortgages in the register and reporters office. And the fees collected then are earmarked into a uh fund known as the Lawrence County affordable housing fund. And uh we have the authority to uh earmark and distribute those dollars. And traditionally there have been two organizations through the years that we continue to support. They do great work. One is the Mission Barn for many years was out in Hickory Township but now is located in Chenango Township. And we've already given them some money this year. And then we did receive a written request from the Carpenters Group, Carpenters Project, uh, which in the summer months, uh, in the Elwood City area, uh, volunteers go out and assist homeowners with repairs to their homes that they might otherwise not be able to afford. Uh this resolution would allocate $15,000 from the affordable housing fund to continue to support uh the uh Carpenters project. Mr. Samato, do you have any questions? I'll just echo I think it's a very good organization brought it to our attention a couple years ago chairman took office and uh I've talked to I've had an opportunity to talk to them. They're doing really great work down there. We appreciate

Thank you for your comments and Mr. Kennedy. Thank you. May I have a motion for resolution 46? I'll make the motion. I'll second. Thank you both. Ask Vanessa to call the role. Commissioner, yes. Commissioner Kennedy, yes. Commissioner Boart, yes. Motion carries. Thank you. Resolution 47 would be an agreement between the county and the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. We've been in a relationship with this organization for many years. And um it Vanessa, it did get a little bit delayed this year, didn't it? It did. Yeah. But but

it's worked out. Whatever issues there were, we got them all worked out, which is why it's in front of us today. Um, so the the resolution would uh if it were to be approved would would designate the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank as the entity responsible for administering Lawrence County's food program under the Pennsylvania Department of Agric agricultures state food purchase program. Um, sir Joe, I hate to put you on the spot. Would this be for calendar year 26? Do you know it'll be for calendar year 26. Okay. So, chances are sometime early next year we'll be doing this again.

Yeah, we've been doing it for several years. Okay. Mr. Kennedy, do you have questions? Mr. Sonado, no. Thank you. Um, I'll ask for a motion. I'll second the motion. Thank you. And roll call, please. Commissioner Sado, yes. Commissioner Kennedy, yes. Commissioner Bour, yes. Motion carries.

Thank you, Vanessa. you put a lot of work into that. So, thank you. Transfer requests. I'm going to read through them. Gentlemen, stop me if you wish and or we get to the end, we can take one motion if you'd like. Maintenance is asking for a $20,000 transfer from within their budget from the maintenance and repairs line item into minor equipment. The public safety office is asking for a $500 transfer from within their budget from vehicle expense line item into minor equipment line item. Central court would like a $2,000 transfer from their contingency into their materials and supplies line item. The district attorney's office is asking for a transfer from within his budget of $5690 from vehicle expense into office minor equipment. Court administration is asking for a $3,000 transfer from their salary line item into their contracted services line item. And finally, juvenile probation is asking for a $1,000 transfer from their contingency into equipment lease. Uh Dan, any concerns? Chris, any concern? Gentlemen, would one of you like to make a motion just to approve all of the requests? I'll make the motion to approve all.

I'll second. I thank you both. And there being no other discussion, we'll ask Vanessa to call the Commissioner Sado. Yes. Commissioner Kennedy. Yes. Commissioner Rober. Yes. Motion carries.

Thank you. Uh announcements. This board of commissioners will meet once again a one week from today, Tuesday, March 31 at 10:00 a.m. in this room, open to the public. On Friday, April 3, courthouse will be closed in observance of uh Good Friday. And as noted earlier, uh, the Lawrence County Retirement Board will have a special meeting in this room today at 1:30 to designate a hearing officer. That's the sole purpose of the meeting. And but it is open to public if anybody wishes to attend. And that reminds me, we'll have to let it know, won't we? See, I I figured you did. Thank you.

You're welcome. Uh, closing comments from my colleagues, Mr. Sonado. Oh, thank you. And closing comments from Mr. Kennedy, you sir. Vanessa, Joe, anything you can ask? Oh, public comment. You came in right at the right time. Uh, no questions. Not really. Okay, we'll be around. And I've got one more packet to give you right here. Uh, well, thank you all. I we had a long meeting today but again we hadn't met last week so we had to do a little catch up. Thank you all. May I have a motion to adjourn? Motion to adjourn. I'll second.

All those in favor please say I. I oppose. Same sign. Motion carries. Meetings journ