SMETHPORT — The McKean County commissioners approved an upgrade to the county’s virtual environment at Tuesday’s meeting.
Jean Hendrickson, information technology director, said, “We are running out of room. It will give us more memory for the servers.”
The commissioners approved the $17,559.57 upgrade, along with a quote of $2,696.75 for Instant ID software for the sheriff’s department.
Also on the agenda were measures to update the county’s IT cybersecurity incident reporting policy and an IT email usage policy.
Commissioner Cliff Lane said next week, the County Commissioners Association, in cooperation with Harrisburg University, will hold a cybersecurity summit. “Our IT department has gone every year,” Lane said. “We are passing policies on cyber security. We want people to realize our IT department is trying to stay ahead of the curve.”
Commissioner Carol Duffy remarked on the Office of Human Services Department of Aging gathering information for a master plan for older and disabled adults. Last week, Kim Briggs of the Department of Aging was at the Bradford Senior Center for a listening session.
“It was a full house,” Duffy said, “it was well attended. There were a lot of concerns that were addressed.”
She said an online survey is asking for the same sort of information — https://pitt.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3Q1mY2reuUlIWou — and is available through Saturday.
Commissioner Chairman Tom Kreiner mentioned that he and Duffy had attended an opening reception for the Blaisdell Center of Futures Rehabilitation Center in Bradford.
“What a beautiful building,” he said. “The sensory room was particularly amazing, a place (the disabled participants) can go to calm down. Kudos to Steve Morgan, their staff and their board. It’s a great investment for their people.”
In other business, the commissioners passed a measure that authorizes the submission of an application to Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development for funding through the Community Development Block Grant program for 2023.
Also passed was a cooperation agreement in which McKean County will serve as administrator of Bradford Township’s CDBG program. The commissioners approved on behalf of Bradford Township a resolution for $84,773 in CDBG funding for the township’s volunteer fire department to make ADA improvements.
From the McKean County CDBG, the commissioners approved $66,000 for PPE equipment for Lewis Run Volunteer Fire Department; $32,000 for Mount Jewett Memorial Library for an ADA compliant sidewalk, parking lot and entry; and $96,061 for a countywide housing rehabilitation program.
Commissioners made reimbursements through the American Rescue Plan Act to the Borough of Kane for $20,000 for a parks and recreation project, and to Annin Township for $38,279.34 for blight remediation.
Also at the meeting, county aid from liquid fuel funds was approved to Smethport Borough for $3,101.42, to Lewis Run for $2,203.06 and to Norwich Township for $2,294.47. Karen McClain was appointed to the Alcohol & Drug Abuse Services board for a three-year term. A grant agreement for $50,583 was approved between Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and McKean County.
The next meeting was scheduled for 10 a.m. Oct. 10.
