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Task force to explore development opportunities

Mifflin County Commissioners announce group to lead community, economic growth

LEWISTOWN — In an effort to move the area forward, the Mifflin County Commissioners announced Thursday they are preparing to form a task force to explore ways to increase community and economic development and post-secondary education opportunities.

“It is unimaginable there is no long-range plan to where this county is going in the future when it comes to economic development and community development,” Commissioner Stephen Dunkle said in announcing the task force creation. “We are organizing a task force and the three of us are committed to it.”

Dunkle said the commissioners plan to reach out to municipal officials and members of the business community to take part in the process.

“We need to give some serious thought as to where we go in the future,” Dunkle commented, adding that the first thing to be done will be to identify the county’s assets. “There are many. We’re excited about moving the process forward.”

In other business Thursday, the commissioners heard from five firms that responded to recently published requests for proposals to upgrade the county’s telephone system.

Nate Smitchko, county MIS director, read proposals from the following: Block Line Systems, ET&T, Extel Communications, EarthLink and IntegraONE.

Bids included hosted solutions, where the system is in the Internet cloud and on-premise solutions, with the actual system being in the Mifflin County Courthouses.

Prices were given for three-year lease options, five-year-lease options and outright purchasing.

“We will open and review these options and hopefully, by the next meeting we will have an agreement,” Commissioner Lisa Nancollas said.

In other action, the Mifflin County Correctional Facility has a new warden following the commissioners approval of hiring Michael Book to replace long-time warden Bernie Zook, who recently retired.

“We’re excited to have a new warden,” Nancollas said. “We will be introducing him to everybody. In fact, he will be in tomorrow morning.”

In other business Thursday, the commissioners:

¯ Announced the Mifflin County Veterans Day Parade will be held beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 10. The parade will start in the area of Kish Apartments on South Main Street in Lewistown, with registration beginning at 5 p.m. For more information, residents should contact Alan Sunderland at 363-0386 or asunderland@co.mifflin.pa.us.

¯ Approved an ordinance authorizing the participation in the Prison Inmate Medical Cost Containment Program, a County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania initiative that helps contain costs. Commissioner Kevin Kodish said participation in the program allows the county to receive discounts on prescription medication. In addition, Kodish noted, “All medical bills are sent to PIMCC headquarters where they are evaluated to make sure we’re being charged the correct amount.” Cost to participate in the program is $19,929 per year.

¯ Approved a request to proceed to negotiate a contract between the EADS Group, Granville Township and the county for CDBG related projects for 2016, 2017 and 2018. James Lettiere of the county planning department said the township is required to go through a competitive process to receive federal money and four proposals were received. Through a scoring system, Lettiere said the EADS Group was the most favorable bid.

¯ Approved a Mifflin County Domestic Relations Constable Agreement with Paul Bollinger, of Lewistown, for the period Aug. 1, 2016 through Sept. 30, 2020.

¯ Approved a proposal from Infocon Corp. of Ebensburg to produce one original set of microfilm of the scanned images from the Register of Wills/Orphan’s Court office that were recorded Jan. 1, 2015 through Dec. 31, 2015 at a cost of $541.12. Scanning will be paid for through the department’s budget, Register and Recorder Barbara Stringer said.

¯ Approved a  proposal from Infocon Corp. of Ebensburg to produce one original set of microfilm of the scanned images from the Recorder of Deeds office that were recorded Jan. 1, 2015 through Dec. 30, 2015 at a cost of $1,650.98. Scanning will be paid for through the department’s budget, Stringer said.

¯ Approved a  proposal from Infocon Corp. of Ebensburg to import the images from two books in the Recorder of Deeds office at a cost of $500. Scanning will be paid for through the department’s recorder record improvement fund, Stringer said.

¯ Approved authorization for Infocon Corporation of Ebensburg to produce microfilm of the scanned images for the Recorder of Deeds, Register of Wills and Orphan’s Court offices on an automated yearly schedule for the previous year. This will also be funded through the department’s budget, Stringer said.

¯ Approved the Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification System maintenance and service agreement with the Pennsylvania District Attorney’s Institute for the period Jan. 1, 2017 through Dec. 31, 2017 at a cost of $2,176.25.

¯ Approved a six-month contract extension with G&R Charles Excavating of Port Trevorton, to obtain the necessary permits for a parking lot to be built across the street from the county’s boat launch project.

¯ Approved a service agreement with CSE-Mills for kitchen equipment maintenance at a yearly cost of $2,078 effective Oct. 1.

¯ Approved a request for exoneration of 2016 county real estate tax bill and relieve the tax collector from collecting the bill on a parcel in Granville Township where a mobile home has been removed. The county’s portion is $168.86.

¯ Approved the resignation of Tammy Swartz as asset building specialist in the Human Services office effective Oct. 21.

¯ Appointed James Carter Jr. of Lewistown to the LEPC Board.

¯ Approved the hiring of Patrick Gregorits as judicial law clerk effective Oct. 24.

¯ Approved the hiring of Michael LaMarca as tipstaff effective Oct. 24.

¯ Approved the transfer of Derek Forry from part-time to full-time corrections officer effective Oct. 16.

¯ Approved the transfer of Jordan Bell from part-time to full-time corrections officer effective Oct. 16.

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