4-H was saluted during Thursday’s meeting of the Potter County Commissioners with not only a proclamation, but also with testimony from one of the teens who are currently benefitting from the youth development program. Spencer Gee, Penn State Extension educator who coordinates 4-H in Potter County, introduced her guest, Dana Williams, who’s actively involved with two local clubs. Gee expressed her appreciation for the county’s support, which includes an annual budget allotment and use of office space at the F.W. Gunzburger County Office Building.
Commissioners Nancy Grupp, Robert Rossman and Paul Heimel formally proclaimed March 16-22 as Pennsylvania 4-H Week in Potter County. 4-H began in 1902 as an educational program for rural youth, focusing on practical, hands-on learning in areas such as farming and homemaking. It has evolved to encompass a broader range of youth development and leadership experiences. More than 77,000 youths ages 5-18 are currently engaged across Pennsylvania. Well over 1,000 Potter County young people have participated in activities such as animal science, health and wellness, leadership, public service, goal setting, public speaking and others. Gee also commended the adult leaders who have served as mentors and hands-on supporters of 4-H members. More information is available at 814-274-8540. (Shown from left are Commissioner Paul Heimel, Spencer Gee, Commissioner Robert Rossman and Dana Williams).
A moment of silence was observed at the F. W. Gunzburger County Office Building on Friday, memorializing U.S. Army Specialist Mike Franklin, who lost his life in the Global War on Terrorism 20 years ago, on March 7, 2005. A banner hangs on the wall next to the Main Street entrance. It was originally hung in downtown Harrisburg, through a partnership of a local civic organization and the American Gold Star Mothers. The banner was donated to the county by SPC Franklin’s parents, Tina and Bill Franklin, when they moved to Arizona.
The Coudersport soldier lost his life when an improvised explosive device detonated near his screening area in Ramadi, Iraq. SPC Franklin, who was a month shy of his 23rd birthday, was not scheduled to be on duty during that shift on 5. But he unselfishly agreed to stand in to help a friend. The checkpoint he was patrolling was established to trap guerrilla fighters through a dusk-to-dawn curfew. Similar operations were taking place in other towns in western Iraq, which were seeing heavy guerrilla fighting. A car had stalled and couldn’t be restarted. Just as Franklin and another soldier were about to begin searching the vehicle, the bomb was detonated by a remote-control device.
After her son’s death, Tina Franklin became involved with the work of Gold Star Mothers, an organization of those who have lost a son or daughter in battle. She has made multiple trips to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., to visit injured service members. Tina and Bill Franklin suggest that those wishing to honor military personnel who have fallen in war consider service to others through community organizations, churches or government agencies.
Potter County Emergency Services Department reports that all eligible fire and emergency response organizations in the county successfully completed applications for state grants to help with expenses related to construction or renovation, purchase or repair of equipment, training, and debt reduction. Grants of $15,000 were awarded to the following ambulance associations: Austin, Coudersport, Gale Hose of Galeton, Genesee, Roulette, Shinglehouse, and Tri-Town of Ulysses. Kettle Creek Ambulance of Cross Fork received $4,133. Firefighting organization grants were $12,018 for Genesee, Germania and Kettle Creek of Cross Fork; $12,664 for Goodyear Hose of Galeton and Shinglehouse; Austin, $13,310; Coudersport, $15,461; Harrison Township $13,740; Roulette $12,879; and Tri-Town of Ulysses, $13,309.
Potter County Tax Assessment Office has added more than $1.3 million to the county’s tax base over the past 12 months, due in large part to Chief Assessor Jacob Ostrom’s field work to locate and document new construction and property improvements. The increase in assessed value of $1.3 million computes to another $7.6 million in market value being recorded. The county’s real estate tax base is now $362.7 million (assessed value), which reflects an approximate market value of nearly $2.1 billion. That does not take into account the more than 40 percent of real estate that is tax-exempt, due to ownership by the state or other exemptions. As a result of the field work, school district, municipal and county real estate taxes will yield additional revenue to the respective government bodies.
This year’s increase was lessened from those of recent years due to multiple factors, ranging from building demolition and disabled veterans’ tax exemption to destruction from the remnants of Hurricane Debby last August and a larger amount of acreage being enrolled in the state-mandated “Clean and Green” program, which reduces tax assessments on farmland, forest land, pastures and other open space.
Ostrom’s job grew harder several years ago when the state legislature eliminated the position of township and borough tax assessor. In prior years, these elected officials were responsible for finding and reporting new construction and improvements. Today, the Assessment Office relies primarily on building permit records and visual inspections to update tax records.
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.)
