EMPORIUM — Cameron County commissioners discussed the state budget, economic news and conservation efforts at their regular meeting held Thursday in Emporium.
Commissioner Lori Reed stated that the budget came up at a recent meeting of county commissioners from northwestern Pennsylvania. The County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP) is pushing against the Republican-crafted budget package which passed in the state House earlier this month.
The budget, which funds programs at slightly less than last year’s levels, offered a modest increase for education. However, it is seen as cutting too much from human services programs, many of which are required to be provided by counties.
“It is a tax increase for the counties, because they’re cutting funding from a ton of human services programs that we’re mandated to provide. We still have to pay for them, so the taxpayers will have to pay for them,” said Reed.
Commissioners thanked all the parties who worked on the Embassy Powdered Metals/AST merger, which will keep needed jobs in the county.
An announcement by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, D-N.Y., to halt construction of the 124-mile Constitution Pipeline that would have moved Pennsylvania gas to processing facilities, is causing issues with natural gas development, Reed said.
“The governor of New York won’t let the pipeline go through, so many wells and pads had to be shut down. They’re not going to do as many as they were in Cameron County,” said Reed. “It hurts to lose that chunk of money (Act 13 Unconventional Well Drilling Impact Fees). We’ll still get the 2016 money; it should be announced on the PUC website soon.”
New York state officials denied the permit because there was not enough information provided to address the potential for significant water resource impacts. The decision is likely to be appealed. New York state has also banned fracking, the process used to release natural gas in shale formations deep underground.
Commissioners approved the proclamation of Conservation District Week as April 23 to 30. The proclamation states that conservation districts manage and protect the land and water resources on public and private lands, and support landowners conserving natural resources. Each county in Pennsylvania, except Philadelphia, has a conservation district. They were formed beginning in 1945 in response to environmental issues associated with the Dust Bowl.
The Cameron County ATV/UTV Association recently held an informational session with local municipality and county officials to discuss a proposed trail that would connect southern Cameron County with Emporium and points beyond. Reed stated that townships and boroughs were well represented. A public meeting is being planned in the near future to allow for resident input and official information to be presented.
A purchase of service agreement with Northern Tier Children’s Home Residential Services Inc. was approved to house eligible female offenders in the Potter County Women’s Recovery Center at a cost of $65 per day, conditional upon review by the solicitor.
Notice was received from the Area Transportation Authority (ATA) via Mike Imbrogno on the consolidation of DuFAST into the ATA, effective July 1.
The next meeting of the Cameron County Commissioners will be held at 10 a.m. May 4 at the courthouse in Emporium.
