Potter County Commissioners Nancy Grupp, Robert Rossman and Paul Heimel have received the findings and recommendations from a consulting firm, Kafferlin Strategies of Warren County, contracted by the county last year to study county operations under the Pa. Dept. of Community and Economic Development’s (DCED) Strategic Management Planning Program. Much of the funding came from DCED. Kafferlin was chosen from among multiple applicants to:
- Review county fiscal management, administration, operations, policies and staffing.
- Create short- and long-term financial plans and issue recommendations related to budgeting, capital projects, overall efficiency, risk management and opportunities for improvements.
Kafferlin Strategies partners Ben Kafferlin and Lisa Hagberg (below) presented their initial findings in early October. Input they received was incorporated into the final document, which was adopted by the commissioners at their Jan. 23 meeting. A copy of the plan will be posted on the county website. The commissioners plan to review the findings and develop a strategy and timetable for implementation. They are also working with a local government policy specialist at DCED to pursue additional funding.
Potter County’s failing “town clock” atop the historic courthouse will soon be restored to service. Maintenance director Joe Kurtz and his team will install the new clockwork acquired by the county commissioners after the current equipment inside the clock tower was deemed by experts to be beyond repair.
Kurtz has been credited with forging a solution that has reduced the county’s cost to a modest $10,000, just a fraction of what the expense would have been to rebuild and stabilize the malfunctioning clockwork that has served for upwards of a century. He and his employees, Kevin Coates and Dan Foster, expect to start installation sometime in February. In recent years, a patchwork of repairs have been made to the mechanism that moves the four long arms to mark time on four separate clock faces. Kurtz credited long-time caretaker Ed Thompson for selflessly donating his services to maintain the clock. He followed in the footsteps of David Hauber, Willard Hauber, Bill Roberts and others. Kurtz and Thompson weighed multiple options before recommending to the commissioners that they purchase a motorized gearbox and controller, along with new driveshafts, gears, hands and center glass. Total project cost is estimated at $26,000, but Kurtz has secured a $16,000 grant to cushion the financial blow.
Prior to moving forward with the plan, Commissioner Paul Heimel contacted directors of the Potter County Historical Society, who agreed to display the current clockwork in its museum on North Main Street. “Everyone agrees that the original equipment has great historic value,” Heimel said. “The society supports this plan and will show the clockwork next to the original clock mechanism from the 1800s which is already on display at the museum.”
The tower with its functioning clock and bell is one reason the courthouse is listed on National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1851-53, the courthouse was remodeled in 1888 with Victorian and Italian touches added to its Greek Revival motif. Major renovations were done in 1933-34 through the Civil Works Administration. The historic bell was silent for many years. In 2016, then-Coudersport Mayor Brenda Whitman and local machinist Bill Daly spearheaded a successful fundraising campaign to repair it.
(Above — This large and complex clockwork that has controlled the four-panel timepiece will be on display at the Potter County Historical Society museum. Below — In 2018, a crew from Fiske Associates of Erie used its massive lift to rehabilitate the clock tower and steeple at the Potter County Courthouse.)
Potter County Commissioners Nancy Grupp, Robert Rossman and Paul Heimel adopted an ordinance that offers tax incentives for construction or expansion of commercial properties during their Jan. 23 public meeting. It’s a successor to a similar ordinance that had been effect for the previous five years. Qualifying property owners can receive a 100-percent abatement of county real estate taxes on the new construction in year one, 80 percent in year two, 60 percent in year three, 40 percent in year four, and 20 percent in year five.
A 1977 state law, the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance (LERTA) Act, authorizes the tax incentive program to support business expansion and job retention/creation. The ordinance applies only to the county portion of real estate taxes. However, school districts, boroughs and townships can also offer the incentives.
The commissioners are also considering adoption of a similar tax incentive measure that would make certain residential property improvements eligible for the temporary tax reductions. Among those who support the expansion are the North Central Penn Board of Realtors and the Northeastern Potter Economic Development Association.
Six new military-themed license plates are available to Pennsylvanians. Recently passed legislation allows PennDOT to offer plates honoring military veterans. Three recognize service members who received medals or honors for individual achievements or deployments. They are the standard license plate colors of white, blue, and gold and bear a graphic of the medal awarded. For a fee of $26, the plates are available for use on passenger cars or trucks with a registered gross weight of not more than 14,000 pounds. These plates include:
- Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Registration Plate – Applicants must submit a completed MV-150P, “Application for U.S. Military Service Registration Plate,” and a legible photocopy of their Form DD-214 “Separation Papers or Discharge Papers” indicating they were awarded the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.
- Operation Inherent Resolve Veterans Plate – Applicants must submit a completed MV-150P and a legible photocopy of their Form DD-214 indicating they participated in Operation Inherent Resolve against the Islamic State and the Levant, which encompasses campaigns in Iraq, Syria, and Libya.
- Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal Registration Plate – Applicants must submit a completed MV-150P and a legible photocopy of their Form DD-214 indicating they served in the 65th Infantry Regiment – The Borinqueneers – or other evidence or having received the Congressional Gold Medal.
The other three new plate designs recognize women veterans. Two are available for motorcycles and the third is for passenger cars or trucks with a registered gross weight of not more than 14,000 pounds.
- Honoring Our Women Veteran Motorcycle Registration Plate – A special fund registration plate allowing applicants to purchase the plate for a fee of $41, with $15 going to the Veterans Trust Fund to support programs and resources assisting women veterans. Applicants must submit a completed MV-914, “Application for Honoring Our Veterans Special Fund Registration Plate.”
- Women Veteran Motorcycle Registration Plate – This standard issue motorcycle plate is available for a fee of $26 and consists of plate colors of white, blue, and gold and bears a graphic representing women veterans. Applicants must submit a completed MV-150V and a legible photocopy of their Form DD-214, or a legible photocopy of the front and back of their DD2(RET), “United States Uniformed Services Identification Card (Retired).”
- Women Veteran Registration Plate – This standard issue plate is available for a fee of $26 and consists of plate colors of white, blue, and gold and bears a graphic representing women veterans. Applicants must submit a completed MV-150V and a legible photocopy of their Form DD-214, or a legible photocopy of the front and back of their DD2(RET), “United States Uniformed Services Identification Card (Retired).”
More information, including eligibility requirements and images of license plates, is available on the License Plates page on PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website.
A window of opportunity has opened in Potter County to get help from a national program to address needs such as affordable housing, public health and safety, infrastructure improvements and others. Aidan Bobik, representing AmeriCorps, spoke at the Oct. 31 Potter County Commissioners’ meeting about services that are available from now through September 2025.
Bobik, who is headquartered in Ridgway, noted that community and economic development and housing are his top priorities as the AmeriCorps regional coordinator. AmeriCorps can provide organizations with funding, resources, and people power to help address community needs. These can take the form of:
- grants to support the placement of AmeriCorps members and volunteers to deliver services.
- assistance to identify and address community needs in areas such as education, health, housing, public safety, infrastructure improvements, expanded access to broadband and community/economic development.
- support to implement strategies to address those needs.
- assistance to strengthen volunteer management and recruitment.
AmeriCorps has recently expanded its support of economic development and employment. Members often work with local organizations on job training programs to help people acquire the skills needed to secure stable employment. They also support local government economic revitalization efforts. AmeriCorps VISTA members specifically focus on alleviating poverty by working to strengthen organizations that serve low-income individuals.
More details are available from Bobik at 814-773-3162, ext. 3016.
Individuals and households in Potter County who suffered property damage or loss in early August due to the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby are now eligible for additional assistance. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds have been released to pay for mitigation measures to prevent future flood losses. In addition, the U.S. Small Business Administration may now increase an approved disaster loan by 20 percent of the verified loss for any mitigation improvements made by business owners.
Homeowners who suffer losses from a presidentially-declared disaster and apply for FEMA assistance will be informed if they qualify for Home Repair Assistance that provides for:
- Elevating a water heater or furnace to avoid future flood damage.
- Elevating or moving an electrical panel to avoid flood damage.
More information on mitigation techniques can be found in a FEMA brochure, “Reducing Risk to Natural Hazards.” (https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/fema-mitigation-ideas_02-13-2013.pdf ) The brochure covers hazards from drought and earthquake to flood and wildfire.
Those taking mitigation measures are reminded that they may have to acquire township/borough permits and meet local codes and professional standards.
