LEWISTOWN — The Mifflin County Commissioners addressed new business items on Thursday morning, focusing on community investment, infrastructure and services that span the county’s townships and public agencies.

The meeting opened with an announcement about Downtown Lewistown’s recent Main Street designation, a move that draws new attention to local revitalization.

Commissioner Robert Postal highlighted that Downtown Lewistown will submit two applications under the state’s Main Street Matters program. The first application seeks $100,000 in mini-grants for local businesses.

The second, submitted in partnership with Mifflin County, would fund phase three renovations at the historic courthouse. The courthouse project is budgeted at $1,249,017, with the county share estimated at $312,254. Postal noted phase one of renovations is already in progress, phase two is planned for next year, and phase three depends on the outcome of this funding request.

Exoneration of county rollback real estate taxes on a parcel in Oliver Township was approved. The McVeytown Volunteer Fire Company will use the property. With a motion and a second, the commissioners voted to relieve the treasurer from collecting the taxes, clearing the way for the fire company’s use of the land.

The board also reviewed the Worker Protection and Investment Certification Form, with Human Services Director Melissa Stewart providing context. The form is part of the state food purchase program. Stewart explained that because of changes in state procedures, the county commissioner’s signature is now required.

The local board handles the application process with area pantries and the allocations are based on last year’s numbers until the state budget is finalized. The ongoing budget delay means that pantries across Pennsylvania, including those in Mifflin County, are relying on their own resources until funds are distributed.

Stewart noted that the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank provides food credits once the allocation is received, but at the moment, “that program is on hold.”

Commissioners then turned to facility maintenance, approving a three-year service agreement with NRG Building Services of Harrisburg for HVAC systems at the courthouse, annex and Mifflin County Correctional Facility. The agreement runs from August 2025 through July 2028, with payments set at $17,850 for year one, $18,385 for year two, and $18,937 for year three.

Road maintenance funds were distributed next. Decatur Township will receive $5,068 and Union Township $4,803 from the 2025 Liquid Fuels allocation, earmarked for paving projects in each township.

Infrastructure investments continued with the approval of an invoice from Mid Atlantic Storage Systems for the Hawstone Water Tank Project, totaling $2,750. Grants Liaison Madison Price explained that the local water authority is providing the labor, while the invoice amount will be reimbursed to the county through CDBG funds.

The commissioners approved two payment applications, each with a balance of $0, for the Hawstone Water and Sewer Extension Projects. Price clarified these payment applications were updated to reflect previously approved change orders, both of which were considered final for their respective projects.

The board also approved amendments to engineering agreements with the EADS Group for the Hawstone projects. The amendment for the sewer extension increases the agreement by $10,282, while the amendment for the water extension reduces the agreement by $17,117.61, bringing the adjusted total to $485,882.39.

The commissioners sought clarity on whether unspent federal funds would remain available to the county. Price explained that the money stays in the federal pool unless drawn down for project costs, so there’s no requirement to return funds that were never distributed.

Price also announced that the second public hearing for the Community Development Block Grant program, originally scheduled for Sept. 4, is rescheduled for Sept. 18 at 9 a.m. to allow for the completion of project surveys.

A series of purchase of service agreements for Children and Youth Services were approved, ensuring residential care and behavioral health treatment for dependent and delinquent youth. The agencies involved include New Life Adolescents (Hillsdale), Pentz Run (Dubois), Pathways Adolescent Center (Oil City), and Central Counties Youth Center (Bellefonte).

Rates ranged from $186.79 to $615 per day, depending on agency and level of care. The county’s share for the Central Counties Youth Center, a detention facility co-owned with four other counties, is $238,503 for the 2025 calendar year. That amount, calculated by formula, will change in 2026 as the ownership structure adjusts.

Personnel changes rounded out the new business. The commissioners approved the transfer of Michael Baker from director of fiscal affairs to part-time Right to Know officer, effective Aug. 11. They hired Sharon Reicher as a part-time Register and Recorder scanning clerk, effective Aug. 18, and Duane McMullen as director of fiscal affairs, effective Aug. 25. Blaine Baker will join the county prison as a part-time LPN starting Sept. 1. The board accepted the resignation of Ashlee Crownover from her post as 911 GIS analyst (effective Aug. 22) and Chelsea Bender from her position as Children & Youth Caseworker (effective Oct. 14).