SMETHPORT — The McKean County commissioners on Tuesday approved a grant for housing rehab.
The McKean County Redevelopment Authority Community Development Block Grant is through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development for $343,343 with five-year eligibility dates to be used for housing rehab and public facilities and infrastructure improvements as administered by the MCRA.
Most of the funding, or $260,041, is earmarked for rehabilitation of single unit residential properties, while the remainder goes for administrative and planning fees and public facilities facilities and infrastructure improvements.
The project cost eligibility dates are from Jan. 27, 2020, to March 16, 2025.
In other business, commissioners agreed to amend a prior Lifesize Inc. Host agreement for one year of services for the Courts for each hosting room @ $179.40 for each hosting unit with a minimum quantity of ten for one year. The total due of $1,644.05 represents $1,794.00 less $149.95 paid previously in March 21.
Lifesize is an Austin, Texas,- based video conferencing and collaboration business.
Commission Chairman Thomas Kreiner reported on the human resources update that showed two hirings: Darlene Parris part-time food service employee at the county jail, and Carly Daughenbaugh, a caseworker at Children and Youth Services.
The commissioners also proclaimed May as Resource Care Month in the county.
According to the proclamation, which urges citizens to open their homes and help change the lives of children in resource care, approximately 15,000 children and youth in Pennsylvania are receiving care and compassion from a resource family.
The proclamation read, “There are numerous individuals, public and private organizations who work to increase public awareness of the needs of children in and leaving foster care as well as the enduring and valuable contribution of resource parents … and the resource care ‘system’ is only as good as those who choose to be it.”
Marcy Flickinger, resource care and adoption supervisor for Children and Youth Services in the McKean County Department of Human Services, told the commissioners via telephone during the meeting about her agency’s $1,000 grant application to the Office of Children and Youth and Families, a state agency, which would be used in May during Resource Parent Appreciation Month.
“We are purchasing “make your own pizza kits” with their own dough, sauce, cheese and pepperoni from Table 105 in Kane,” Flickinger said. “Then we will hold a virtual meeting with all the resource parents and prepare food together. May 20th is our tentative date.”
The commissioners’ next meeting be at 10 a.m. May 11.
