COUDERSPORT — A representative of Goodwill Industries visited the Potter County commissioners meeting to discuss efforts to recognize October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
Commissioners voted to adopt a proclamation to encourage employers, schools and other organizations to build more inclusive business cultures and to observe awareness month.
Raymond Donati, president and chief executive officer of Goodwill Industries of North Central Pennsylvania, stated that more than 330 people with disabilities are employed by Goodwill across the 13 counties included in the Northcentral region. More than 500 are employed in total, with six currently working at the Coudersport Goodwill location.
Donati also stated that the Coudersport Goodwill is moving in order to expand its operations. The store is moving from its current location to the former Dollar General building, increasing the store’s size from 3,000 square feet to nearly 8,000.
Product lines will be expanded, and additional employees will be needed.
“We probably will employ another six to eight people with the opening of the new store,” Donati stated.
Goodwill Industries also helps place disabled individuals in jobs at traditional employers and other non-profits. The company is a registered 501(c)3 organization, and receives no grant money or tax dollars from the federal or state government, instead functioning completely on donations.
In other business, commissioners announced an upcoming meeting of the Potter County Natural Gas Resource Center, which will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 14 at the Gunzburger Building in Coudersport. The topic of the meeting will be “Best Practices,” especially timely as activity in the gas industry has begun to pick up across the region.
The newest edition of the Shale Gas Roundup Newsletter is available on pottercountypa.net, as is the newest edition of the Veterans Newsletter. The veterans’ newsletter contains photographs and details on the recent return of Lt. William Turner’s remains to the Gilmore Cemetery, along with a wealth of information to benefit local veterans.
Recently added to the site is a link to a video of Williamsport Mayor Gabriel Campana’s downtown revitalization presentation made to the Coudersport Chamber and downtown committee and representatives from other local communities.
In other matters, the Verizon/Fowler lease agreement was approved by commissioners. A tower on the Fowler property owned by Potter County will now be utilized also by Verizon. Verizon will pay $1,500 monthly for use of the tower, with $750 each payable to the county and Fowler.
Five workstations within the Gunzburger Building are being leased by companies and individuals involved with the natural gas industry. This development reflects the uptick in business in the area, according to Commissioner Doug Morley.
A contract was renewed with UGI Energy Services to lock in electricity rates for the coming year. At the Gunzburger Building, courthouse and jail, a rate of $0.07377 per kilowatt hour will be charged, and $0.07507 will be paid at the Potter County Human Services building.
Appointments were approved for the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), as recommended by County Emergency Management Coordinator Glenn Dunn.
Re-appointments were approved to the Potter County Conservation District Board. Doug Morley will serve as the commissioners’ representative through the end of 2015 and Phil Lehman will serve as Farm Director through the end of 2018.
The next meeting of the Potter County Commissioners will be held at 11 a.m. Oct. 16 at the Gunzburger Building in Coudersport.
