Potter County has also made use of its state-of-the-art GIS services to help pinpoint areas where reliable high-speed internet services is not available. It’s part of the commissioners’ “Broadband for All” initiative. Potter County’s advances were recently highlighted in a story appearing in the online publication, GovLoop. To access the article, click here.
To learn more about Broadband for All, click here.
Programs administered by Potter County Human Services (PCHS) affect hundreds of lives across the county. PCHS offers opportunities for public input on its many programs through dedicated advisory boards. Clients and their family members or caregivers, as well as community representatives, are encouraged to participate. All board meetings are open to the public. PCHS operates programs for victims of alcoholism and other drug abuse, older citizens, the mentally ill, children who are at risk, the intellectually disabled and those who are homeless or otherwise disadvantaged. Volunteer advisory board members are appointed by the Potter County Board of Commissioners. Anyone interested in being considered for appointment to any of the boards should contact the Commissioners Office at 274-8290, extension 207.
One group of volunteers holds quarterly meetings to provide input on the overall operations of PCHS. Directors of the county agency depend on the Potter County Human Services Advisory Board in determining program priorities and other issues.
An Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Advisory Board serves in a consulting role to PCHS in the delivery of prevention and treatment programs. The field has been changing dramatically in recent times with a growing methamphetamine epidemic, the abuse of prescription drugs, and heroin addiction. Alcohol and tobacco, among other drugs, also take a toll among county residents. AOTD meetings will be held at noon on the second Friday of each month. To participate, call PCHS at 814-544-7315 for further information.
An Area Agency on Aging Advisory Board offers input to administrators of programs and services for older county residents, ranging from senior centers and home-delivered meals to in-home care and assistance with Medicare. Next board meeting is scheduled for 10 am on Nov. 8. To participate, call PCHS at 814-544-7315.
Potter County has signed up for another year of service from a notification system that provides the public with important alerts and time-sensitive messages on tornadoes, floods, or other emergencies. At last week’s business meeting, Commissioners Nancy Grupp, Barry Hayman and Paul Heimel renewed a contract with OnSolve, the company that provides the “CodeRED Reverse-911 System.” Cost for another year of service is $4,763.
CodeRED sends early warnings using phone calls, email, social media sites and text messaging. Residents of Potter County are encouraged to visit pottercountypa.net and click on the CodeRED logo to enroll their contact information. There is no fee. Additional information is also available at 274-8900, extension 501.
The Potter County Commissioners this year awarded grants to four local governments to help repair or replace deteriorating bridges. The board allotted $40,000 to Pleasant Valley Township, $36,500 to Homer Township, and $20,000 each to Austin Borough (Elliott Street Bridge) and Bingham Township. County officials used a scoring system to determine which townships and boroughs would receive grants. It was developed by the Commissioners, representatives of the Potter County Association of Township Officials, and Potter County Planning Department to ensure objective and equitable distribution, since demand for the funds exceeds supply. Some other counties have adopted the Potter County system as a model.
Each year, the commissioners invite townships and boroughs to apply for a share of the Pa. Act 13 Bridge Improvement Restricted Use Fund received by Potter 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. County-owned bridges are also eligible, which is not a factor in Potter County. Under Act 13, Potter County receives $40,000 annually in the Restricted Use Fund. Shown below are the check presentations to representatives from Homer Township and Pleasant Valley Township.
The Potter County Commissioners tapped into the county’s federal COVID-19 coronavirus relief fund last week to help six local food banks deal with increasing demand and high costs. Grants of $10,000 were approved for the food pantries in Coudersport, Austin, Galeton, Roulette, Ulysses and Shinglehouse. Each of the distribution sites supports low-income residents with healthy food. Operating hours and policies vary. The food banks are supported by Potter County Human Services, Central Pennsylvania Food Bank and donations.
Schedule is as follows:
More information on Potter County’s food banks is available from McKayla Freeborn at Potter County Human Services; 814-544-7315, option 2, or mfreeborn@pottercountyhumansvcs.org.
Photo– Colleen Osgood, second from right, representing the Galeton Food Bank, accepts a $10,000 grant from (l. to r.) Commissioners Barry Hayman, Nancy Grupp and Paul Heimel.
County and local governments received higher allotments this year from state’s tax on shale gas production. Potter County’s share was $316,800 for gas activity in 2021, far above the $207,015 received last year for 2020 activity. The county also received an additional $25,000 that can be used for certain environmental and/or recreational projects, and a $40,000 allotment for local bridge projects.
Top recipients in Potter County (2021 payments in parentheses) were: Sweden Twp., $76,838 ($46,613); Ulysses Twp., $68,120 ($43,873); West Branch Twp., $53,688 ($32,609); Summit Twp., $41,472 ($25,079); Eulalia Twp., $35,530 ($21,891); Clara Twp., $24,579 ($17,446); Coudersport, $20,641 ($13,517); Keating Twp., $19,706 ($12,197); Pleasant Valley Twp., $19,689 ($16,967); and Wharton Twp., $19,592 ($11,902).
A boom in local gas drilling kicked off in 2007-08 after companies verified deep pools of trapped two or more miles underground in shale formations. Two companies in particular – JKLM in Potter County and Seneca Resources in Cameron and other counties – became major players. Pennsylvania imposed a tax, described by politicians as an “impact fee,” on shale gas in 2012. Sixty percent of fees collected from energy companies go to counties and local governments and 40 percent to the state.
County and local governments can use the money for preservation and reclamation of water supplies; improvements to roads and bridges; construction and repair of water and sewer systems; delivery of social services; local tax reduction; housing; conservation districts; emergency preparedness and flood plain management.
The state’s share is used for emergency response planning, training and other activities; water, stormwater, and sewer system construction and repair; infrastructure maintenance and repair; as well as environmental initiatives.
Funds also go county conservation districts, Pa. Conservation Commission, PUC, DEP, Fish and Boat Commission, Emergency Management Agency, Dept. of Transportation and Office of State Fire Commissioner.