SMETHPORT –– The McKean County Commissioners approved a resolution Tuesday to enter into memorandums of understanding and transportation plans with the Bradford, Kane, Otto-Eldred, Port Allegany and Smethport area school districts to address requirements and responsibilities for transporting placed children outside their home school districts.
Dan Wertz, director of McKean County Children and Youth Services, attended the meeting and updated the commissioners about meeting the requirements of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, one of which is for CYS and the county’s five school districts to collaborate in guaranteeing that students in placement remain in their original school, unless it’s not in their best interest. In some cases, this could require transportation.
In effect, the transportation plan outlines cost-effective steps to follow when a child in placement resides in a different district.
“This legislation states that the states must have a plan to implement the requirements of ESSA, since the state receives federal funding, but so far there is no state legislation providing concrete guidance to CYS and school districts,” said Wertz.
Wertz said he has met with the five school superintendents twice in December to discuss the ESSA requirements. Four of the districts have notified Wertz that they have approved transportation plans.
School districts and CYS must name points of contact to ensure the child in placement receives the necessary services. For CYS, Wertz is the contact person.
In other business, the commissioners adopted a resolution re-enacting the Lewis Run Borough Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance ordinance, whereby the county will provide tax exemptions for certain improvements to deteriorated commercial or industrial properties and for new construction in deteriorated areas as permitted under the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assessment Ordinance Law.
The exemption lasts five years, beginning with this tax year. It will follow the exemption schedule — first year, 100 percent; second year, 80 percent; third year, 60 percent; fourth year, 40 percent; and fifth year, 20 percent.
In other news, the following invoices were approved for payment: Area Transportation Authority (ATA), $17,647.25; Office of Human Services, $6,250; Foster Township, $9,992; Port Allegany Borough, $13,212; and alcohol and Drug Abuse Services, $10,238.
The commissioners also adopted a resolution authorizing the county to accept offers for purchasing properties from the county repository for unsold property. There were a $1,205 offer from Donald and Sherry Martin for .440 acres of land in Hamlin Township and an offer of $1,500 from Vicky Sunder for .380 acres in Port Allegany Borough.
Two approved real estate tax matters were approved. One was a refund of $52.56 to David and Debra Graham for an adjusted assessment due to the removal of an outbuilding. The second one was a tax exemption to Norwich Township for .09 acres of land on Route 46, a government entity.
During the public comment part of the agenda, Mitch Gross suggested the county consider changing the current three-year time period for delinquent taxes to two years.
Responding to a question from Gross, the commissioners said county employees are not required to reside in the county.
The commissioners will check into an inquiry Gross made about the 911 address system.
