SMETHPORT — The McKean County Commissioners Ok’d a resolution Tuesday appointing machine inspectors to serve during the municipal election on November 5.
Director of Elections Lisa Pratt told commissioners at this meeting that the 49 election officials have completed training on the 96 machines that were purchased from Election Systems Software with the help of a grant of $39,554 from the Help America Vote Act.
“The biggest change with the new equipment was the set-up that was completely different overall, but still makes it easier to process opening and closing,” Pratt said. “Overall, though, we had a positive response from the officials.”
Pennsylvania’s counties were mandated to replace their old electronic voting machines with new ones that are equipped with verifiable paper trails for all votes cast. With these new machines ready for the November general election, McKean County is ahead of the state goal of the 2020 primary election.
With all three commissioners present and voting unanimously, it was decided to submit an engagement letter to RBC Capital Markets, LLC, to explore a new bond issue. Following the vote, Commissioner Cliff Lane explained that the county can save money by refinancing the county’s three bond issues. “Commissioners have done this on a regular basis,” he noted.
In another vote, commissioners adopted the ordinance approving the intergovernmental cooperation agreement authorizing a single primary contractor agreement with the state for the Healthchoices Behavioral health program on behalf of McKean and more than 20 other counties of the North Central Zone Counties. Created in 2006, the Behavioral Health Alliance of Rural Pennsylvania supports putting into effect the Healthchoices and Medicare Managed Care programs in the 23 counties.
County aid applications were approved for two municipalities. Mt. Jewett Borough plans to use its $2,044 for street repavings. The $9,707 for Keating Township will be applied to the purchase of construction materials.
The county will extend its lease with Moose Ventures LLC for Magisterial District Judge David Engman in Kane for a month-to-month rate of $2,000, with automatic renewal terms according to certain conditions.
In a personnel matter, Sarah Hayden, director of human resources at ARG, was appointed as a private sector member representative to the board of directors for Workforce Solutions of North Central Pennsylvania for the remainder of a four-year term from October 8, 2019, to June 30, 2022.
Commissioners issued a ceremonial Letter of Congratulations for the Bradford Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #212, which marks 100 years of service this year.
Commissioners reported on their other recent meetings as well:
Carol Duffy said she and Tom Kreiner, along with county planning director Jeremy Morey, attended the listening session hosted by the Keystone Economic Development and Workforce Command Center in Elk County. Barriers limiting local employment and the success of the regional workforce and economy were topics of the meeting. Duffy said, “This was an informative meeting.”
Kreiner reported that he and Duffy, Gerry Rettger, Jody Groshek, Lindsay Shine, Maddie Stanisch and Tracy Carl attended the annual convention of the McKean County Association of Township Officials October 3 in Port Allegany and were included in the day’s agenda. The commissioners were included in the day’s agenda.
Lane attended the 37th annual board/staff workshop of the Area Transportation Authority Friday in St. Marys.
