The July 29 Perry County Commissioners meeting began with Amber Martin, Community Development Project Coordinator at SEDA-COG, moderating the final public hearing on the 2024 Community Development Block Grants (CDBG). Updates were received on construction and repair projects in New Bloomfield and various contracts, proposals and agreements were approved.
Martin discussed the appropriations for the rehabilitation of the Noye Park Pedestrian Bridge in Duncannon totaling $71,752.67, the Liverpool Municipal Authority second well chlorine contact tank totaling $71,752.67, and the Loysville Municipal Authority sewer manhole rehabilitation project totaling $71,752.66. SEDA-COG’s administrative fee is $43,300. Copies of the resolution to file the CDBG application for fiscal year 2024, the Fair Housing Resolution, and the 504 Officer Resolution were available for inspection.
Following the public hearing, the Commissioners moved on to the remainder of their agenda. The Commissioners announced that there would be no Commissioner meeting on Monday, August 5, as the Commissioners would be attending a conference. The next meeting will be held on August 12 at 10 a.m. at the Fairgrounds, virtual participation is not possible.
During the public hearing, New Bloomfield Mayor Ed Albright asked about funding for the Short Cut Road and Barnett Woods Road bridges. Commissioners responded that they are working with the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission to resolve the issue, but no permanent solutions are currently available because the bridges are less than 20 feet tall. Albright also questioned the progress of repairs to the Rhinesmith building, which was recently damaged in a hit-and-run accident. Commissioners noted that an insurance adjuster and engineer have assessed the situation and efforts are being made to find a temporary solution before the upcoming street festival in September.
Taira Little, director of the Perry County Chamber of Commerce, said the Discover Perry County guidebook, which gives tourists a quick overview of things to do in the county, will not be ready in time for the fair because the release will be much longer than originally planned. Little said the Chamber of Commerce expects to have the guidebooks ready by Aug. 21. Little also encouraged attendees to attend the Chamber of Commerce’s networking events, more information about which can be found on its website.
Following the public comment period and approval of the minutes from the previous meeting, the Commissioners approved a list of warrants totaling $334,139. Resolution 2024-06 was approved, which authorizes a reimbursement agreement for the Covered Bridge package. An agreement with Zix for email encryption services in the amount of $5,025 was also approved.
Contracts for the 2024/2025 fiscal year with the Cumberland-Perry Drug and Alcohol Commission were approved. Two CDBG subrecipient agreements with the Liverpool Municipal Authority for 2021 and 2022 were approved. The 2021 agreement totaled $76,722 and the 2022 agreement totaled $114,950.
A proposal by W.S. Miller for a portico project at the Freedom Building, amounting to $21,522, was approved. Maintenance Superintendent Marty Smith explained that a covering over the main entrance to public buildings was needed and stated that he had obtained three written bids for the project, with Miller making the lowest bid. He stated that work on the project would have to be completed either before October 19 or begin after December 2 to avoid affecting the election.
Contracts for fiscal years 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 with Cumberland-Perry Mental Health/Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities were approved. For fiscal year 2024/2025, the contracts totaled $157,252 and for 2023/2024, the contracts totaled $19,371,417. After some discussion about the size of the 2023/2024 contracts, the commissioners stated that the total would likely be equal to the total for Perry and Cumberland counties.
A Children and Youth Services Agreement for 2024/2025 was approved with KidsPeace with no increase. A Westlaw Proflex renewal contract for Perry County Court Administration in the amount of $2,268 was approved.
