Juniata County officials discuss service grants

Funds provided are to support Prosecution, Juvenile program

Mifflintown – During a brief meeting Tuesday the Juniata County commissioners ratified the receipt of the Juniata County Rights and Services Act (RASA) and Victims of Juvenile Offenders (VOJO) Services Grant application sub-grant in the amount of $79,144.00 as submitted by Sylvia Middaugh, Victim Witness Program Coordinator.

The funds provided by the RASA and VOJO program are to support the carrying out of responsibilities assigned to Prosecution and Juvenile Probation under the Crime Victims Act (Act 85 of 2002), the Juvenile Act and Pennsylvania's Rules of Juvenile Court Procedure.

The goal of RASA and VOJO funding is to ensure that victims of crimes committed by adult and juvenile offenders, whose cases are processed within the criminal and juvenile justice systems, receive all the rights and services to which they are entitled under law. RASA funding may be used to provide services to victims of adult and juvenile offenders, while VOJO funding may only be used to provide services specifically to victims of juvenile offenders. The term of the grant is for January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2022.

The commissioners also took the following action during the meeting:

¯Approved the renewal agreement with EnviroServe, Inc. regarding the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Directive for Certified Hazardous Material Response Teams in Pennsylvania as recommended by Allen Weaver, Emergency Management Agency Director.

¯Approved the "Purchase of Service Agreements" between Juniata County Children and Youth Services, the Juniata County Probation Department, and the entities listed. Common Sense Adoption & Foster Care Services, Outside In School of Experiential Education, Inc., George Junior Republic in Pennsylvania, Family Care for Children and Youth, Inc., Family Care Services, Inc. and Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries.

¯Ratified Juniata County Hazardous Materials check #1378 in the amount of $1,200.00 for Bucks County Community College membership and check #1379 in the amount of $29.90 for Wex Bank for fuel

¯Approved tax exonerations for Fayette Township as per the material provided.

¯Reviewed the February 2021 departmental reports: "Assessment Reports" as submitted by the Juniata County Assessment Office, "Treasurer's Report" as submitted by the Treasurer's Office, "Juniata County Probation's Monthly Activities Report" as submitted by Michelle A. Beaver, Chief Probation Officer, "Children and Youth Statistical Report" as submitted by Ashley J. Baxter, Children & Youth Director, and "Summary of Collections Report - Fines and Costs" as submitted by Jacqueline T. Leister, Magisterial District Judge.

¯Ratified payment of checks #60710 – #60766 in the amount of $70,387.21.

¯Approved payment of checks #60767 – #60807 in the amount of $374,380.85.

The Juniata County commissioners will not hold a meeting Tuesday, March 23rd as they will be attending the 2021 virtual spring conference hosted by the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania.