Submitted photo
Commissioner Noah Wise, Commissioner Rob Postal, 911 Supervisor Brian Fleegal, Commissioner Kevin Kodish.

LEWISTOWN — The Mifflin County Commissioners held their regular meeting on Thursday, addressing a diverse agenda that included honoring public safety telecommunicators, modifying community development block grant budgets, and handling various personnel matters.

Leading off the meeting was a proclamation designating the week of April 14-20, 2024, as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in Mifflin County. The commissioners recognized the critical role dispatchers play as the vital first point of contact between citizens and emergency services.

“Emergencies can strike at any time, and the quick response of police, fire, and medical personnel is essential to protecting lives and property,” the proclamation stated. “Public safety telecommunicators exhibit compassion, understanding, and professionalism while serving as that single vital link monitoring and supporting the activities of first responders.”

The proclamation lauded the county’s telecommunicators for their substantial contributions to apprehending criminals, suppressing fires, and ensuring patients receive prompt medical treatment. The week honors the diligence of these dedicated professionals who help keep the county and its residents safe.

When discussing the proclamation honoring public safety telecommunicators, Brian Fleegal, the county’s 911 supervisor, provided some additional insights:

“As for the proclamation, we very much appreciate this support,” Fleegal said. “We have ten full-time dispatchers and four part-time. We’re probably averaging 100 incidents a day right now.”

He noted there is currently one full-time and one part-time vacancy in the department.

Next, the commissioners tackled a series of Community Development Block Grant budget modifications for federal fiscal years 2020, 2021, and 2022. Dina Patsiavos-Graham, project coordinator with SEDA-COG, outlined the proposed changes.

For FFY 2020, funds were shifted to boost the budget for the Yeagertown Senior Center HVAC project by $5.16 and reallocate $59,241.69 from housing rehabilitation to private sewer lateral connections along Hawstone Road.

The 2021 modifications redirected the entire $33,561 housing rehab budget to Derry Township senior center improvements, increasing that project’s allocation to $106,148.

Finally, for FFY 2022, the $83,249 slated for Granville Township housing rehabilitation was moved to private sewer connections on Hawstone Road. Leftover funds of $988 for the Walnut Street sidewalk project phase 2 were rolled into the budget for phase 3, bringing its total to $78,531.

When reviewing the CDBG budget modifications, Commissioner Kevin Kodish asked whether shifting funds out of housing rehabilitation and into other projects reflected difficulties in finding contractors to perform the rehab work.

Patsiavos-Graham responded it was a wonderful question.

“I think that those were two where I understand it, the housing rehab programs or programs that were simply not initiated and therefore abandoned,” she explained. “Not that we cannot, you know, we’re in a position where we can initiate those programs yet again and seek [CDBG] funding. That was definitely, I think, just looking at current projects that are large or in need of some funding and moving accordingly from housing.”

Patsiavos-Graham added timelines associated with the grant funding also factored into the decision to reallocate the money to projects that were ready to move forward now. However, she acknowledged that difficulties with contractors are a genuine concern.

“I think there’s a lot we could do to improve that and get over those hurdles. But you’re right; it is definitely a concern,” she said.

Following Patsiavos-Graham’s presentation, the commissioners voted to approve submission of the budget modification certifications to the state Department of Community and Economic Development.

In other business, the commissioners:

• Approved exoneration of delinquent real estate taxes on a parcel where a mobile home was removed;

• Authorized a $3,816 Act 13 Marcellus Shale Legacy grant agreement with the Mifflin County Youth Park;

• Accepted a $24,638 proposal from Berkshire Systems Group for fire alarm devices and notification equipment at the Mifflin County Library;

• Passed a resolution supporting a funding request to the state’s COVID-19 ARPA Capital Projects Fund Multi-Purpose Community Facilities Program;

• Approved an intermediate punishment grant application seeking $95,000 for the period of July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025;

• Approved a Children and Youth Custodial Parent Services Agreement with Law Office of Brian Baker, Mifflintown, to provide court-appointed counsel for custodial parents in child welfare cases for the period April 18 through Dec. 31, for the sum of $2,500 per month.

• On the personnel front, the commissioners approved several hirings, resignations, and appointments:

• Hired Lance Dressler as part-time corrections officer effective April 7;

• Accepted Zachary Poff’s resignation as field assessor effective April 19;

• Hired Addison Lane, Hayden Spade, and Shane Endres as part-time corrections officers effective April 22;

• Accepted Briana Estep’s resignation as Children and Youth caseworker effective April 26;

• Hired Janette Ouedraogo as case coordinator in the Courts effective May 6;

• Appointed Andrew Elder as public safety intern from May 6 through Aug. 16;

• Rescinded the hiring of Alan Sunderland as a part-time 911 telecommunicator.