SMETHPORT — A Port Allegany contractor was awarded two
renovation contracts Wednesday by the McKean County
Commissioners.

Falk Construction of Port Allegany was low bidder on replacing
the windows at the Old County Home Building, the part formerly used
for medical offices, with a quote of $10,080 for single-hung
windows. Other bids had ranged up to $15,520.

Falk also was low bidder on roof replacement on the same
structure, and will do the job for $16,700. A metal roof will be
applied over the existing roof. Other quotes were as high as
$38,838.

One of the “tenants” that will occupy space there will be
Children and Youth Services. Some staff will have offices there.
Those or nearby offices were used by CYS before the agency was
moved to a new building nearby.

The commissioners said the CYS building has become overcrowded
and needs more space for its staff.

The commissioners reported that the repair, reconstruction and
systems upgrades on the McKean County Jail and the courthouse are
in progress, in some instances, and being phased in others.
Improving wiring, heating and ventilation, energy efficiency,
lighting and appearance are goals of the projects. The work is not
expected to cause relocation of the various offices and departments
involved, nor interfere with the public’s access.

One improvement that is under way now is extending the walls
between the commissioners’ offices to the ceiling. Although the new
sheet rock walls have not been finished, the commissioners said
they have noticed the improvement already, with each office being
quieter.

The commissioners said they have been finding their visits to
the meetings of the municipalities within the county
worthwhile.

Commissioner Al Pingie said, “We have been to six out of the 22.
We have been received very well. We believe this will make for
better relationships with the municipalities.”

Commissioner Chairman Joe DeMott commented, “Rather than going
to a meeting where you have 30, 40 officials there, when we attend
these meetings we can hear of their concerns. And some of their
constituents come” in some instances, providing an opportunity to
hear from other county residents the commissioners might not
encounter otherwise.

Commissioner Judy Church added that the series of visits to
municipal governments will extend through August, according to the
schedule that has been developed. “We have enjoyed these meetings,”
she said.

Kathy Roche, director of the county tax claim office, reported
that a recent offer on a property in the county repository had been
withdrawn when the prospective buyer learned there were old oil
wells on the property.

Commissioners’ solicitor Dan Hartle told her that the buyer in
such as case would have no liability. Roche said she would so
inform the person, and thought the offer might be renewed in the
light of that assurance.

The offer of $300 by Russ Orner for a repository property, a
vacant lot at 46 Petrolia St. in Bradford, was approved for
acceptance.

Roche also said that she would like the commissioners’ blessing
on a plan to extend the “hardship” program which was offered to
some property owners who were unable to stay current with their
taxes and were in danger of losing their properties in tax
sales.

The program is designed to help taxpayers who are under economic
stress, perhaps from medical conditions or because of unemployment
or other difficulties.

Roche said there had been a fairly high proportion of defaults
on the agreements, offered for the first time for the 2009 tax
year, with some taxpayers not following through with the
installment payments they had promised to make. Still, if even a
few property owners were enabled to keep their homes through the
program, she felt the opportunity should be given.

The commissioners agreed that a hardship program should be
available, with the four-payment system Roche planned to use.

There were 44 election machine inspectors appointed for the May
18 primary election, to fill out the local election teams for
polling places. The commissioners explained that the inspectors
being appointed are to be in charge of the additional machines
(those beyond a single machine) that will be in use at the polling
places. A number of machines have been purchased recently, so that
all polling places will have at least two, and some will have
more.

Machine inspectors, majority inspectors, minority inspectors and
clerks receive from $136 to $148 per election, depending on the
number of votes cast. Judges of elections receive $141 to $153.
Training cost reimbursements are provided. The commissioners noted
that the pay is not high, and those who supervise elections in
their precincts are performing a public service.

County Aid applications were approved as follow: Bradford
Township, $10,890, for paving; Hamilton Township, $2,128, future
project; Kane Borough, $7,813, paving; Keating Township, $9,975,
toward purchase of a loader-backhoe; and Mount Jewett Borough,
$2,266, general maintenance and repairs.