Potter County Today

Potter County Commissiones and the Potter County Planning Commission hosted an informational session at the Gunzburger Building on the Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative (REC) high-speed internet project– and the options to expand internet service beyond Tri-County’s footprint. Aaron Young (shown), who recently joined the team as chief technology officer for the Tri-Co Connections subsidiary, explained that the build-out will start in Potter County and eventually extend to nearly 17,000 REC members in the cooperative’s seven-county service area. A $27 million loan will supplement federal and state grants to pay for the historic $77 million project, according to Bill Gerski (left), senior vice president for business development.

Construction is underway in Potter County for the first 100-mile phase, bringing fiber optic/broadband service to 723 residential, 626 seasonal, 98 small business, and 9 large business customers. Over the next five to six years, another 3,150 miles of fiber will be constructed. Tri-County REC itself will benefit in multiple ways, including remote monitoring of its electrical network, from substations to distribution lines and individual installations; smart meters, and other capabilities.

Potter County Planning Director Will Hunt explained that the county learned through extensive public surveying related to the new comprehensive plan that expansion of broadband service is a high priority in underserved areas. “We are now taking steps to identify gaps in broadband service in and around Potter County, and to help identify potential partners and funding sources that may be able to fill the gaps for rural broadband in areas not serviced by Tri-County,” Hunt added.

His office has compiled an assessment as follows:

Opportunities

• Improve the quality of life for Potter County residents by closing the gap of the “digital divide.”
• Ability to close the gaps and provide services to residents who currently do not have access to internet service of 25mb or greater speed;
• Funds to be allocated by the state or federal governments to support the build-out in underserved areas.

Challenges

• Identify the homes and businesses not serviced by existing internet service providers.
• Identify potential providers to fill the service gaps.
• Investigate partnerships and/or incentives to attract service providers.

Steps Forward

• Create a planning committee to supervise a feasibility study for development of expanded broadband service.
• Identify public and private partners to serve on, or advise, the committee.

A work group comprised of the Potter County Commissioners, representatives of the Potter County Association of Township Officials and Potter County Planning Department will convene later this year to review requests for funding to support local bridge repairs. The application process is now open. Townships and boroughs must submit their requests no later than Sept. 26.

Each year, the commissioners invite local governments to apply for a share of the Pa. Act 13 Bridge Improvement Restricted Use Fund received by the county through a state fee on shale gas wells. Under Act 13, county commissioners have the authority to distribute the funds as they see fit, as long as they address at-risk bridges. Commissioners Doug Morley, Susan Kefover and Paul Heimel, together with the County Planning Department, developed a system whereby the money is expended according to an evaluation/ranking framework to address the most critical needs. Several other counties have since adopted the Potter County system as a model.

Under Act 13, Potter County receives $40,000 annually in the Restricted Use Fund. Details can be found on the county website, pottercountypa.net, under the Planning Department tab. More information is available from Potter County Planning Director Will Hunt at 814-274-8254, ext. 229.

Volunteering is a great way for many older Americans to stay engaged in their communities and make a difference. It opens the door to opportunities, meeting new people, and making new friends. One of the nation’s largest and most recognizable volunteer networks, the Senior Corps, is making a push for participants in Potter County. Also known as the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), Senior Corps provides the opportunity for people age 55 and older to share their time and talent in a wide variety of volunteer activities. Steve Weeks (right), director of RSVP for Potter, Tioga, Clinton, Lycoming and Northumberland counties, shared details with the Potter County Board of Commissioners (from left) Paul Heimel, Susan Kefover and Doug Morley last week.

“Many retirees and other people 55 and older are eager to serve and give back to their communities,” Weeks explained. “The problem we’re seeing, especially in this part of the state, is that they’re not sure where they might be needed or what they can do to help. Senior Corps bridges that gap, not only for the volunteer, but also for the agency or organization that needs the help.”

Schedules are flexible, Weeks pointed out. Volunteers can choose a location or community project, as well as the number of hours they wish to serve. They receive basic orientation and training, as well as full insurance coverage while serving. Senior Corps members have become a lifeline to many nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and other groups who depend on volunteers to help meet the increased demand for services. Upwards of 140 Potter County residents are now serving through the Senior Corps program. Among organizations that are benefitting is Potter County Habitat for Humanity.

As community needs are identified, Senior Corps responds quickly. Perhaps it’s providing food to hungry neighbors, training unemployed workers, offering support to struggling veterans and military families, or helping a child learn to read. For more information on Senior Corps, contact Steve Weeks in Wellsboro at 570-765-3075.

Committee members (from left) Paul Heimel, Dawn Wooster and Bill Simpson at a veterans’ gravestone restoration demonstration. Wooster and Simpson have left county service and been succeeded on the committee by Danielle Gietler and Michael Pepper.

Potter County was recently notified that it has received a National Excellence Award for the activities of its Veterans Services Committee in 2018. Committee members Paul Heimel, Bill Simpson, Dawn Wooster and Danielle Gietler were cited for pursuing multiple initiatives to serve and honor the county’s military veterans. Judges from the National Association of Counties chose Potter County under the theme, “Our Military Veterans: NEVER FORGET,” according to NACo Public Affairs Coordinator Lindsey Maggard. The award will be presented an NACO’s Annual Conference in July.