Commissioners raise awareness of area agencies

LEWISTOWN -- The Mifflin County Commissioners meeting full of county proclamations for the month of May on Thursday during their regularly held forum.

The commissioners proclaimed May as Mental Health Awareness Month and has some significant weeks dedicated to Mifflin County employees. In recognizing and celebrating local emergency medical and corrections employees, the commissioners the week of May 7-13 is Corrections Employees Week, and the week of May 21-27 is Emergency Medical Services Week.

Employees of Juniata Valley Behavioral and Developmental Services, the Mifflin County Corrections Department and Mifflin County Emergency Medical Services were in attendance in appreciation and thanked the commissioners. Department leaders thanked the commissioners for their renewed commitment as well. Juniata Valley Behavioral and Developmental Services Administrator Kathy Whalen attended the meeting as one of Mifflin County's leaders in the field and to thank the commissioners for their proclamation and to kick-off Mental Health Awareness Month.

Whalen described the region's Out of the Darkness Walk, which aims to raise mental health awareness.

"It will be held in unity Kish Park in Lewistown on Sunday, Oct. 1. There will also be a green ribbon campaign, green ribbons will be added to parking meters in the Lewistown Borough and the fountain will be lit up," Whalen said.

She added that the county also hosts a Green Day, today at Mifflin County High School, which supports children's health and well being.

She said May 8-12 is Mental Health Awareness Week at Mifflin County High School. Case Management Services Inc. will provide counseling resources and services to students during their lunch periods.

"To let them know it's OK to not be OK, we are also holding free to charge a reduced stigma training on May 9 at the Compass Center from 10 to 2 p.m., she said. Brunch will be provided. There is also a fundraiser May 23 in McVeytown at Harshbarger's Sub-M-Malt.

A benefit bingo will also be held at 1 p.m. June 4 with tickets available through JBDVS.

Commissioners also proclaimed Corrections Officers Week May 7 – 13.

Mifflin County Warden Jason Kormanic attended the meeting and thanked the commissioners and staff of the corrections department.

The commissioners praised the professionalism displayed by corrections officers in the county and the many features that go into the job.

"In the face of the current public health crisis, correctional employees throughout our country have risen to the challenge of implementing increased health and safety precautions to ensure the wellbeing of all those in their care," Commissioner Rob Postal read.

Commissioners additionally announced that May is also Motorcyclist Safety and Awareness Month.

Commissioners noted that PennDOT encourages motorcyclist to take advantage of free training courses motorcycle training programs courses through Pennsylvania's motorcycle safety programs and pledge to be one less fatality by visiting www.livefreeeridealive.com a

Local president of Patriot Riders Chapter 53 Steen Petersen attended the meeting and spoke with the commissioners about local community charity events the club has hosted such as giving away bikes to kids every June and safety awareness measures.

"We have our Operation Save-A-Life program. I am going to try to get into the schools this year and teach the young drivers students to look out for us on the highways," shared Petersen.

The Patriot Riders group helps families in need and raises money for good causes. Also during the meeting Colton Spade of the Mifflin County Probation department made a compelling case for a request made by Mifflin County for $95,000 for a grant for the county to help fund programs to reduce incarceration recidivism by offering more incarceration diversion programs.

In other business, commissioners approved of the following business:

• Approved exoneration of 2023 county portion per capita taxes in Menno Township;

• Approved exoneration of delinquent real estate taxes in Armagh Township;

• Approved a contract with J-Way Architectural for the architectural, engineering design, bidding and contract administration assisting services for the Mifflin County Library accessibility and enhancement project for $128,000;

• Approved a renewal agreement with Rochester Midland Corporation for water management services at the Courthouse and Jail for the period June 1, 2023 through May 31, 2024 in the amount of $4,400;

• Approved a five year software support quote from Global JailTracker for the jail management system in the amount of $6,870.98 per year;

• Approved an application for the Intermediate Punishment Grant for the period July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024 in the amount of $95,000;

• Terminated an amended agreement with Juniata Valley Behavioral and Developmental Services vacating the premises on Green Avenue;

• Approved Resolution No. 16 of 2023 appointing Planning Director Carrianne Love as a voting member of the SEDA-COG MPO;

• Approved Resolution No. 17 of 2023 establishing the fair market value of three individual lots located at the former Black's Hospital site and authorize the execution of a sales agreement with each high bidder for the sale and disposition of each individual lot;

• Rescinded Resolution No. 13 of 2023 that established the fair market value of the Green Avenue property and that authorized the sale and disposition of the property

Personnel;

• Transferred April Vodopija from part-time to full-time Corrections Officer effective April 30;

• Hired Thomas Bulick for Security Guard in the Sheriff's Department effective May 8, 2023;

• Hired part-time Corrections Officers Cassidi Wileman, Tyler Wileman and Kyler York effective May 8;

• Promoted Samantha Snook from Children and Youth Caseworker I to Caseworker II effective May 8;

• Approved the resignation of Children and Youth Caseworker Jacob Yoder effective May 10, 2023;

• Approved the resignation of Robert Grassmyer from part-time Corrections Officer effective May 12, 2023;

• Approved the resignation of Brayden Powell from part-time Corrections Officer effective May 15, 2023.