COUDERSPORT — Commissioners announced that Potter County has been accepted to join a national effort aimed at honoring Vietnam War veterans during their regular meeting held on Thursday.
The county is now an official partner of the U.S. Vietnam War Commemoration Project, administered through the Department of Defense. An acceptance letter was received on Wednesday, stating that the county and its Veterans Service Committee “now represents a grateful nation in honoring and recognizing our soldiers and their families.”
Commissioner Paul Heimel, who also serves on the veterans committee, said members “have very ambitious plans for next year’s recognition dinner and memorial service.”
The DOD has guidelines and resources to help organize the upcoming events, and has also provided an official flag, certificate of participation, and will supply a high-ranking military official and/or Vietnam veteran to speak at the ceremony.
The first public information meeting of the newly reformed Natural Gas Resource Center (NGRC) was held this past week, featuring speaker Dan Brocket, an educator with the Penn State Marcellus Center for Outreach and Research.
Commissioners listed three takeaways from the meeting they believe are important. First, Potter County does not have the quantity and quality of Marcellus Shale gas that was initially expected, or that was discovered in other counties farther east. But, prospects for the Utica Shale layer seem much brighter. Preliminary drilling has revealed significant reserves beneath Potter County.
Counties have also been slow to drill because the market remains flat. When drilling began to access the gas deep under Pennsylvania, it was worth $9 or $10 per cubic foot. Now, natural gas can be sold for about $2 per cubic foot. Infrastructure is currently being built to bring gas from wells that have already been dug or will be when gas prices increase, but not at as rapid a pace as was initially expected.
Finally, Potter County probably will not experience the drilling frenzy so well-known from other communities in eastern and southern counties. In other counties, the deposits are richer, leading to more profit. Potter County’s activity will likely be slower, bringing economic benefits without as many of the negative impacts to communities and infrastructure that has been a thorn in the side of some more heavily developed areas.
Commissioner Susan Kefover reported on a symposium held by the Pennsylvania Workforce Development Board. Kefover and county commissioners from Greene and Clinton counties presented information on elected officials and creating teamwork between agencies.
Kefover also reported on promising partnerships being made with community college programs, CareerLink, community development departments and other agencies and organizations to share data and become more effective at creating a viable workforce.
“When companies are moving or opening new facilities, they’re no longer looking for locations, they’re looking for a skilled workforce,” Kefover said. “By 2020, there will be an estimated 6 million empty jobs. Ten thousand retirees are leaving the workforce every day.”
A presentation was given by Jeff Davidek of the C.S. McKee firm on the state of the county’s retirement fund; the county fund continues to increase, with a return of about 10 percent for the year. The portfolio contains more bonds than stocks, due to a bond return rate of 0.5 percent and a stock return rate of 19 to 24 percent. However, Davidek stated that the company is adopting a more conservative stance in its portfolios currently.
Commissioner Doug Morley reported that the 2018 budget process has begun, and county officials are in the process of contacting all department heads to begin gathering information from them. The budget is anticipated to be posted on Nov. 30 in order to allow time for the 20-day public review period prior to final adoption during the last meeting of December 2017.
GIS/Planning Director Will Hunt attended the meeting to present commissioners with a copy of the Municipal Resource Booklet recently compiled in response to questions and needs related by municipal officials.
The Potter County Conservation District was also involved in the process, with information included on regulations, permitting, and services handled through the conservation district. The booklet will be updated as needed, and copies have been forwarded to all municipalities. The document will also be available on the GIS/Planning website and the PCCD website in the future for easier availability.
GIS/Planning officials will attend this weekend’s township convention to meet with officials. Heimel credited municipal officials and county employees with maintaining a close relationship between the two groups. Hunt stated that meeting with municipal officials was educational for him and other members of the agencies, and that the resource booklet was developed in response to issues and concerns raised by officials during a series of meetings held between the two groups.
An agreement renewal was approved with Cholin Corp., Inc., for preventative maintenance of the fire alarm equipment at the Potter County Jail at an annual cost of $2,475 through October 2018.
An agreement modification with Clinton County for inmate housing was approved. Changes were made to the medical expenses and transportation costs.
The next meeting of the commissioners will be held at 11 a.m. Nov. 9 at the Gunzburger Building in Coudersport.
