Potter County Today

Joe Kurtz (right) and his assistants Kevin Coates (left) and Dan Foster are known informally in county circles as the “A-Team.” Evolution of the Maintenance Department to a skilled labor team has saved Potter County hundreds of thousands of dollars while improving working conditions and preserving historic buildings.

A trio of Potter County employees have earned national recognition with a 2025 Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties. Maintenance Supervisor Joe Kurtz and assistants Kevin Coates and Dan Foster qualified for the award based on innovation and excellence that have saved the county hundreds of thousands of dollars while improving working conditions. “The awards program shines a spotlight on the hard work and innovation happening in county governments,” said NACo President James Gore. “Potter County’s example of excellence will be held up as a model for other rural counties across the nation to follow.”

Seeds for the success were planted in 2021 when the commissioners authorized Kurtz to expand the department. His employees have since evolved from general workers to skilled laborers. Expenses of outside contractors have been reduced by an estimated 80 percent. At the F.W. Gunzburger County Office Building, the team recently renovated two outdated bathrooms in a hallway, saving the county an estimated $75,000; created a conference room/technology center for county and public use; renovated a section of the basement to accommodate relocation of the Domestic Relations Department, eliminating an expensive rental contract; and expanded the offices of the Planning, Community Development and GIS Department, among other improvements.

Also, Kurtz, Coates and Foster rehabilitated a vacant county building at Mapleview for use as a combination District Court and Veterans Services headquarters; obtained and installed a modern clockwork with grant funding to replace the failing courthouse tower clock; performed repairs and upgrades at 911 emergency communications tower sites; and converted a vacant lot to a community garden with 32 raised beds. Earlier, under Kurtz’s leadership, several major projects at the historic Potter County Courthouse were completed at significant cost savings. These included painting of the exterior, windows replacement, renovation of the courtroom, and replacement of the front staircase, among others.

“Potter County’s approach to these critical functions is a rarity among rural counties,” said NACo’s Gore. “Professionalism of the department came during a time when the county’s tax base was declining and its financial reserves descending. Costs for labor and materials were rising. The timing of developing these critical in-house skills and services could not have been better.”