COUDERSPORT — Online services offered by Potter County are being used for a number of different purposes, as was discussed during a presentation by GIS/Planning Director Will Hunt during a commissioners meeting held Wednesday in Coudersport.
Map galleries available on the Potter County website and the Natural Gas Resource Center website are being used for a number of different purposes, by both residents and people outside of the county looking to obtain information.
On the NGRC website, a new filter tool allows viewing of vertical, horizontal or all types of wells. The data can be sorted by permit date. A new addition on the site is the inclusion of information about each well, including whether the well has been “spudded,” the operating company, name of the well, and associated dates. The information is provided by the Department of Environmental Protection and updated monthly.
Other information available through these interactive maps include an emergency viewer that shows road closures and other hazardous situations, a flood plain layer widely used by realtors, watershed maps, polling locations and local government office locations.
Hunt stated that, in addition to the maps being a useful tool for county employees, emergency responders and other local officials, having the information online makes it accessible to the general public and saves time that would normally be spent by county employees looking up information for residents. Traditional maps can still be printed at the Planning Office, using the program to locate a resident’s parcel.
The NGRC website now also includes information on careers within the oil and gas industry, and information on more than 30 sub-contractors working in the region to help residents seeking employment connect with jobs in the industry.
Three Community Development Block Grant-funded projects will be under construction this year, according to an update from community development director Jennifer Rossman. Upgrades to the sewage treatment plant in Roulette Township include replacement of two storage old storage tanks, one which was non-operational and the other was leaking. Several DEP notices were received concerning the issues. Construction funds will come from fiscal year 2017 CDBG entitlement funds that the county receives annually.
Shinglehouse will see repairs to its water and sewage treatment facilities. The sewage treatment plant uses an older system that was having major issues dealing with “flushable” products that cannot be processed effectively on aging equipment. Construction in Shinglehouse will come from fiscal year 2016 entitlement funds and a competitive grant approved in 2017.
Genesee’s multi-year project to make improvements to water treatment facilities will wrap up this year. Funds came from 2015 and 2016 entitlement funds and a competitive grant, and include a new springhouse, well, storage tank, and related infrastructure. The Genesee project cost a total of about $1 million, and is expected to be completed in July of 2018.
“Those two competitive grants for Genesee and Shinglehouse really helped get these projects done. They are both big projects — about $1 million — and they are meaningful projects that would’ve been nearly impossibly for the county or these communities to fund on their own,” Rossman said.
Rossman also reported that the tourism agency merger with Tioga County that resulted in the development of Visit Potter-Tioga seems to be drawing in more Potter County businesses, groups and agencies as partners and members. The merger is receiving praise from officials at the state level, and helping the two-county region develop into a leader in outdoor recreation and PA Wilds tourism. The 2018 Visitor Guide was recently released, highlighting a number of activities, businesses, attractions and festivals in the county. The full-color magazine is available through the Community Development office and at locations throughout the region.
Participants are being selected for inclusion in the Route 6/PA Wilds Façade Update program, open to businesses in Potter, Tioga, McKean and Warren counties. Applications were due last week, and Rossman reported that of 47 grant applications received, 20 were from Potter County. The panel, which includes both Rossman and Hunt, expects to award funds to 32 applicants and announce their decisions at the end of January.
The county’s Veterans Service Committee applied for a Veterans’ Trust Fund grant to cover expenses for activities connected with the Vietnam War Recognition ceremonies, scheduled to be held in mid-September. Several days of events are being planned, including a recognition dinner, memorial ceremony, and the Moving Wall display. Heimel stated that local funds are available through a local trust set up years ago to be used for honoring veterans in the county.
Commissioners acknowledged the promotion of part-time Deputy Reuben Donovan to an appointed full-time deputy as requested by Sheriff Glenn Drake, and the position transfer of Amanda Andreano into the first deputy position by Register & Recorder of Deeds Gary Kelsey. Kelsey also hired Marian Butler to fill the position of second deputy which is being vacated by Andreano due to her promotion.
Larae Frank was hired as a part-time van driver for Potter County Human Services.
The next meeting of the Potter County Commissioners will be held at 11 a.m. on Feb. 1 at the Gunzburger Building in Coudersport. A meeting of the Retirement Board, including a presentation by Jeff Davidek of the C.S. McKee firm, will precede the regular meeting.
