An organization dedicated to protecting Potter County’s public drinking water held its first meeting of the year last week at the Gunzburger Building. Triple Divide Watershed Coalition (TDWC) welcomed Pa. Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) representatives Mark Stephens (left) and Mark Accettulla, who shared timely information. TDWC was formed in 2011, pulling together all nine public water systems in Potter County – a first for a Pennsylvania county. Members are the municipal systems in Shinglehouse, Austin, Galeton, Coudersport, Genesee, Roulette, Ulysses and Port Allegany, as well as the Northern Tier Children’s Home and UPMC Cole.
Much of Wednesday’s discussion focused on the 24/7 monitors that have been installed at many public drinking water sources in Potter County to document flow, temperature and conductivity. This creates a database while alerting water system operators to any potential contamination or other aberration. TDWC used a $100,000 grant stemming from a fine levied against JKLM Energy to help townships and boroughs acquire the equipment. However, just 16 of the county’s 19 public water sources are being monitored. A monitor in Coudersport Borough was recently disconnected due to false readings. Stephens emphasized the importance of keeping the equipment functional to provide a database that might to used in the event of contamination and resultant enforcement action or litigation. He also stressed the need for water system operators to update their sourcewater protection plans. Among other items on Wednesday’s meeting agenda were reports on potential internships, grants for municipal water systems, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency educational resources, water system operator career training opportunities, and a report on the Potter County Commissioners’ “Project 2025,” an initiative to reverse the county’s population decline and steady rise in median age.
TDWC was formed by the Potter County Commissioners and the county’s Planning Department. The organization won the Pa. Governor’s Award for Local Government Excellence, but its work had only begun at that point. TDWC spearheaded the historic Potter County groundwater characterization study that was completed with the assistance of the U.S. Geological Survey and other partners. This was the first-ever detailed analysis of groundwater resources in Potter County that charted the water’s location and components, as well as migration patterns and other characteristics. It’s important information to have when assessing the potential impact of shale gas drilling and other industrial activities. Mission of TDWC is “to protect public drinking water sources within the headwaters region of the Allegheny, Genesee and Susquehanna River systems from any degradation of source water quantity or quality.†This is accomplished by proactively evaluating susceptibility to contamination, working to minimize or eliminate potential threats, creating long-range protection strategies, supporting local planning and inter-governmental cooperation, encouraging public education initiatives, and any other activity to benefit present and future generations.
Potter County Criminal Justice Advisory Board (CJAB) members heard the latest results from the county’s treatment courts and discussed a proposal to establish a “reporting center†for men who are involved in the criminal justice system during their quarterly meeting last week. In 2013, county officials established a DUI Treatment Court for qualifying offenders whose crimes were related to alcohol abuse. That was followed by a Drug Treatment Court in 2015. Under the specialty court model, defendants who are diagnosed with addiction issues and meet other criteria can avoid further criminal sanctions if they commit to an intensive treatment regimen and other conditions.
It’s part of a broader strategy to reduce the number of repeat offenders in the criminal justice system by addressing factors that affect their behavior and decision-making. Senior Judge John Leete presides over both courts. Participation declined over the second half of 2019 and currently stands at three for DUI Court and eight for Drug Court. County officials are investigating options for combining the courts by 2023, depending on caseloads and other factors. DUI Court has earned state accreditation through December 2022. Drug Court has not been accredited.
CJAB chairman President Judge Stephen Minor presented a statistical summary for 2019 reflecting that none of the nearly 400 urine tests taken for alcohol or other drug use by DUI Court participants came back positive. The Drug Court was another story. Although there were 1,427 negative drug tests, another 85 came back positive – 37 for methamphetamine, 36 for amphetamines, nine for marijuana and one each for cocaine, benzodiazepines and alcohol.
A men’s reporting center was proposed as a complement to the Women’s Recovery Center operated by Northern Tier Children’s Home for court-referred offenders. There, they receive mental health and addiction recovery services, as well as other assistance to help them successfully return to society. Some CJAB members, including District Attorney Andy Watson, expressed support for the “restrictive intermediate punishment†concept as an alternative to incarceration. The center could also serve as a site for offenders who are clients of re-entry services specialist Patrick Harris. Potter County Commissioners Nancy Grupp, Paul Heimel and Barry Hayman may be approached with a request to investigate establishing the center.
Also at last week’s meeting, CJAB members discussed new security standards that will be required at district judge offices and reviewed the findings of the Sequential Intercept Mapping Workshop held last summer in an effort to improve the criminal justice system’s handling of offenders with mental illness.
A strategy to address two of the most serious challenges facing Potter County in the new decade was unveiled on Thursday by Commissioners Nancy Grupp, Paul Heimel and Barry Hayman. “Project 2025” is a blueprint to reverse the steady descent of the county’s population, coupled with the growing outmigration of young adults. These trends have serious implications for the future vitality and quality of life in Potter County. Most recent U.S. Census Bureau figures reflect another 5-percent drop in population, from 17,462 in 2010 to 16,622 as of June 2019. At the same time, the county’s median age has gradually risen to 47 years, far above the statewide median of 41.
The commissioners have assigned two of their department heads, Planning Director Will Hunt (right) and Community Development Director Ellen Russell (above), to develop and implement Project 2025. They summarized the mission and early research results for the commissioners and several citizens who attended to learn more. Its lofty goal is to assemble stakeholders, conduct intensive research, and implement a strategy to reverse the population loss and median age growth by the end of 2025. Some of the options are spelled out in the 2020-29 Countywide Comprehensive Plan. That document reflects input provided by hundreds of community leaders, business owners, conservation advocates, education and tourism officials, and others with an interest in the county’s future. A website will be developed to serve as a clearinghouse for Project 2025. It will include progress reports, links to helpful resources and other features.