SMETHPORT — The McKean County Commissioners unanimously adopted a resolution Tuesday authorizing the application to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development for the COVID-9 County Relief Block Grant that totals $3,668,79.00.
The county was afforded the opportunity to apply for this funding to support any or all COVID-1-related expenses within the following seven categories:
Offsetting the cost of direct county response, planning and outreach efforts related to COVID-19;
Assisting qualifying municipalities located in the county to offset response and planning efforts related to COVID-19;
Small Business Grant Programs to support businesses with fewer than 100 employees and to support businesses and other entities that are primarily engaged in the tourism industry;
Grant programs to support the following entities for costs related to assisting businesses during the COVID-19 Disaster Emergency: CEDOs, LDDs IRCs, SBDCs and EDCs;
Behavioral Health and Substance use disorder treatment services;
Broadband internet development with priority given to unserved or underdeveloped areas; and
Qualifying non-profits.
In other votes, commissioners OKd the first restatement of the intergovernmental cooperation agreement establishing the Northern Tier Regional 9-1-1 System Project.
Officials of the participating counties of Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Jefferson, McKean and Warren believe that for ease of organization in dealing with addressing future administrative modifications, it was better to have a restatement to the agreement formerly known as the “Northern Tier Regional Telecommunications Project.”
Commissioners opened the lone bid for the paving project for the jail and Children and Youth Services locations and accepted the quote from Taylor and Armstrong Contracting in Eldred pending review by the solicitor and maintenance department.
Five County Aid applications were approved during this morning meeting. They were $1,176.08 for Corydon Township for winter maintenance; $4,975.65 for 664 tons of gravel for roads for Ceres Township; $6,808.88 for Kane Borough’s PIB loan payment; $8,182.54 for Liberty Township’s Freer Road improvements; and $2,570.74 for Hamlin Township’s winter maintenance material.
Commissioners also approved the county repository sale of 3665 Route 446, Eldred Township, to Amy and Robert Albney of Rixford for $6,500.
In personnel matters, commissioners approved the appointment of Mary Waters to the McKean County Housing and Redevelopment Authorities.
Commission Chairman Thomas Kreiner announced that the commissioners’ next meeting at 10 a.m. on July 14 is slated to be open to the public, although attendees will be asked to wear a mask. “We’re trying to do our best to prevent the spread of the coronavirus,” Kreiner said. “It is real.”
