COUDERSPORT — At Thursday’s meeting, Potter County commissioners approved an expenditure of Community Development Block Grant funding for improvements to community infrastructure.
A request from Roulette Township for improvements to the community’s sewer plant was approved, with block grant funds in the amount of $175,760 now earmarked for the project.
At a previous meeting, commissioners heard information from community development director Jennifer Rossman and Bill Siegel of SEDA-COG (Council of Governments), who administers the block grant program in Potter County, on the process of reviewing the Roulette project and a bid from the Galeton Borough Authority for improvements to their wastewater treatment facility.
The commissioners all stated that both projects had merit and were seen as urgent community needs, but the recommendation from Siegel and Rossman indicated that Roulette’s need was likely more immediate, and it was therefore recommended for approval.
Commissioners Doug Morley and Paul Heimel agreed with the assessment, voting to direct 2017 block grant funds to the Roulette project.
Commissioner Susan Kefover voted against the move, but stated that her “no” vote was not due to the Roulette project, but rather due to her belief that the Galeton project should be funded at the same time, through Act 13 funding.
“I believe Act 13 funds would be the optimal solution. Those funds are unencumbered; there would be hundreds of thousands of dollars left; and this would fill an urgent need in either of those communities,” said Kefover. “This is a crisis. If something happened at that Galeton plant, it would pollute Pine Creek and then we’d have a serious problem.”
Heimel suggested that the other municipalities in the county should have an opportunity to submit their projects, and commissioners could fund the ones with the greatest need through Act 13 funding.
Morley assured Kefover and assembled Galeton representatives that this does not necessarily deny funding for the Galeton project, but block grant deadlines are approaching, and the process must move forward immediately for those funds to be used.
Drug and Alcohol Director Colleen Wilbur presented information on efforts and programs aimed at helping people with addiction and other issues become functioning members of society.
“We are in the midst of a heroin/opioid epidemic. Thirteen people per day are dying from overdoses in Pennsylvania. That’s an increase from 11 per day just a few months ago,” said Wilbur. “About four years ago, alcohol was the majority of our diagnoses…we’re now also seeing a lot of (methamphetamine) over the past three months, but heroin is a major problem because people die so fast.”
Wilbur stated that representatives go into the schools to talk about the dangers of drug use, and a number of programs have been implemented. They also have to talk to emergency service workers and hospital employees because some of the newer opioid substances — fentanyl and carfentanyl — can be absorbed through the skin and cause overdose or death just through touch.
“We started to notice that just locking people up doesn’t work, especially with addicts. You have to change the way they think, who they hang out with, everything,” said Wilbur. “Drug Court and DUI Court are some of the best programs I’ve ever worked with.”
In other business, several business members from Potter County will take advantage of the Export Program through the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission. On Sept. 21, 14 of Pennsylvania’s Overseas Offices will be represented at the Red Fern in Kersey, giving local business owners an opportunity to meet one-on-one with specific representatives, which include the countries of Canada, Germany, Mexico and the United Kingdom.
The next meeting of the Potter County Commissioners will be held at 11 a.m. on Sept. 28 at the Gunzburger Building in Coudersport.
