Juniata County officials adopt 2021 tax hike

Residents urged to take advantage of drive-through COVID testing this weekend

MIFFLINTOWN -- During a brief meeting Tuesday, the Juniata County Commissioners formally adopted the 2021 budget of $12,712,720.83 that includes a real estate tax increase.

The budget raises the real estate millage rate to 25 mills, up from 22.75 mills. It is the first increase to the millage rate since 2009.

One mill is equivalent to $1 per $1,000 of assessed property value. That means a Juniata County property valued at $50,000 would see a tax increase next year of $112.50.

The commissioners also urged the public to take advantage of a drive-through COVID-19 testing site that is coming to Juniata County beginning Sunday and running through Dec. 31.

The testing site will be open from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. each day at the Central Juniata EMS building at 47 CJEMS Lane in Miffilntown, except on Dec. 31 when it will close at 3 p.m. Both walk-in and drive-through patients will be accepted.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, up to 450 patients can be tested per day. Mid-nasal passage swab PCR tests will be performed on a first-come, first-served basis and is completely free to all patients. Patients must be ages 3 and older and are not required to show symptoms of COVID-19 in order to be tested. No appointment is necessary. Patients are encouraged to bring a photo ID or health insurance card. Registration will also be completed on site. The health department says turnaround time for testing results is two to seven days after testing and those who test positive will be notified via phone while those who test negative will receive an email informing them of the result.

In other business, Commissioner Mark Partner was honored by the Pennsylvania Counties Risk Pool, also known as PCoRP, as the recipient of the 2020 Ron Shearer Award, which is given to a PCoRP board member who shows leadership and is an active participant.

John Sallade, managing director of insurance programs for PCoRP, said the choice for this year's award was not difficult.

"This year when we were looking at nominations, it was pretty easy to select the winner of the Ron Shearer award," Sallade said.

Sallade explained that Partner has served two different stints on the board and has twice been elected chairman, most recently in 2020. He also pointed out how Partner's invaluable experience was crucial after the death of the previous chairman.

"We were very pleased and the board was very happy to have Mark back on the board," Sallade said. "In a time of shocking loss, it was great to have Mark on the board to be able to step back into role as chairman."

Partner said he felt honored but was thankful his fellow commissioners were willing to allow him to serve.

"I also appreciated (Commissioner Todd Graybill) and (Commissioner Alice Gray) allowing me to be active and participate," Partner said. "These are obviously some very challenging times … but our board is very progressive and very cooperative."

PCoRP insures 52 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties, including Juniata County.

Also on Tuesday, the commissioners unanimously:

¯ Ratified acceptance of the Juvenile Court Judges' Commission Juvenile Probation Services Grant Award Notification No. G-20-21-34-A in the amount of $20,006.19.

¯ Approved Fermanagh Township's request for allocation of 2020 liquid fuel funds in the amount of $3,656.11.

¯ Ratified CDBG-IDIS check No. 1261 in the amount of $8,892.78 to Robert P. Lepley, electrical contractor, as submitted by the Juniata County Planning and Community Development Department. Planning Director Brad Kerstetter said it was to complete the backup generator project for the county.

¯ Reappointed Richard Leitzel and Keith Fawver to four-year terms on the planning commission, effective Jan. 1, 2021, as recommended by Kerstetter.

¯ Approved service agreement between Juniata County and Nancy Schrum, esquire, for public defender services for fiscal year 2021, effective Jan. 1, 2021.

¯ Renewed business property lease agreement between Juniata County government and Nancy Schrum, esquire for the rental of space by Schrum at 4 North St., Mifflintown. The term of agreement is one year, effective Jan. 1, 2021.

¯ Approved payment of checks Nos. 60141 to 60191 in the total amount of $466,626.67.

¯ Adopted resolution No. 2020-15, authorizing the issuance of a federally taxable tax and revenue anticipation note in the maximum principal amount of $190,000.

The Juniata County Commissioners regularly meet at 10 a.m. each Tuesday at the Bousum Building in Mifflintown, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, restrict in-person attendance to 10 people. Those wishing to attend the meeting virtually may do so by following instructions posted on the county commissioners' website https://www.juniataco.org/elected-officials/commissioners/.