SMETHPORT — The McKean County Commissioners on Tuesday accepted the low bid of $138,601.14 from M & M Contractors of Ridgway for the county recycling center rehabilitation project in Smethport.
This project involves the installation of a concrete pad and curbing, enclosure with fence and gates, storm drainage, new light pole and electrical service and security system at the county’s recycling center. The facility is adjacent to the Good Growing Gardens on the county complex along U.S. Route 6 west of Smethport. A compactor is slated to replace the current three recycling bins at the site.
Commissioners also approved an agreement with Inmate Calling Solutions LLC, for an inmate telephone system at the McKean County Jail.
Sheriff Dan Woods told The Era, “With this new system, inmates, when booked into the jail, will able to deposit money into their commissary accounts without the correction officers handling the funds. By using an online system families can deposit money into inmates’ accounts without having to travel to the jail.”
There will be no upfront cost to the county, Woods added. In fact, the county receives a portion of the fees for the telephone calls.
In another approved motion, the commissioners agreed to allocate $30,448.66 of the county’s Act 13 Greenways Fund to Kane Borough and Lafayette and Otto townships.
Kane Borough will receive $15,000 for engineering and site design for the Kane Railroad Depot. The $2,500 for Lafayette Township is to go for purchasing and installing new “Welcome” signs on Route 59. In Otto Township, the $12,948.66 is slated for revitalizing the community park near the Otto-Eldred High School.
Also approved was a resolution authorizing the county to allocate $74,723.55 of its Act 13 Highway Bridge Improvement Restricted Funds to Eldred, Ceres and Liberty townships.
The $15,000 for Eldred Township will go for maintenance work on the Windfall Road Bridge over Knapp Creek. Ceres Township will use its $25,000 for the painting of the Barbertown Road Bridge over Kings Run, while Liberty Township’s $34,728.55 is for replacing the Upper Portage Bridge over Portage Creek.
The county is also to enter a sign easement agreement with New Growth LLC, which will allow the county to place a “Welcome to McKean County” sign on their property on U.S. Route 219 in Sergeant Township at the border of Elk and McKean counties.
Other voting by the commissioners authorized the county to sign an agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development for the Emergency Solutions Grant Program. The grant amount is $150,000.
Additionally, the commissioners agreed to enter into a subcontractor contract with A Partnership in Housing for providing services, also under the Emergency Solutions Grant Program.
The YWCA Bradford Inc. is also to enter a subcontractor contract.
The ESGP is designed to assist individuals and families quickly recover stability in permanent housing after experiencing a housing crisis or homelessness.
