LEWISTOWN — The Mifflin County Commissioners on Thursday approved a series of measures that will affect local taxes, social services funding, public infrastructure projects, and personnel across several departments, marking a full agenda of new business as the board moves into the fall season.

The commissioners granted requests from tax collectors in Lewistown Borough and Decatur Township to exonerate the county portion of 2025 per capita taxes for 35 and 48 individuals, respectively. The action, described as routine, clears unpaid taxes from local rolls when residents have moved or cannot be located, a step tax collectors said helps keep municipal records accurate and up to date.

A major item involved the Human Services Block Grant Plan for 2025-26, which lays out the county’s use of more than $1.77 million in state and federal funds to support services for homeless residents, mental health, and drug and alcohol treatment.

Human Services Director Melissa Stewart explained the funding supports programs provided by agencies, including Juniata Valley Behavioral Development Services and Tri-County Drug and Alcohol. She said the county is relying on last year’s funding levels while waiting for the state budget to be approved, a delay that has so far not interrupted services but could force delays in payments to providers if the stalemate continues.

Representatives from both partner agencies told commissioners they are prepared to operate for another two to three months even if funding does not arrive, but would have to consider local solutions to avoid service cuts if the impasse stretches into winter.

The board also authorized the first payment application, totaling $20,817, to Guyer Brothers for ongoing work to install a new water service main in Juniata Terrace. Grants Liaison Madison Price informed commissioners that the project, funded by a 2022 Community Development Block Grant, involves clearing rights-of-way and boring under railroad tracks, with additional work scheduled to move forward once inspections are complete. The project is a joint effort with the municipal authority and is one of several CDBG-funded upgrades planned for the area.

In another CDBG-related matter, commissioners approved a three-year engineering agreement with The EADS Group to provide services from September 2024 through September 2027 for county CDBG projects. Price said the agreement covers various engineering needs and was finalized after a public request for proposals last year.

The board passed Resolution No. 6 of 2025, the annual CDBG Fair Housing Resolution, as presented by Carol Kearney-High of SEDA COG. Kearney-High said the document must be approved each year to meet grant requirements for all county-administered CDBG projects, including those in Armagh, Brown, Derry, and Granville townships and Lewistown Borough. She noted that while most required “master file” documents stay valid for several years, the fair housing resolution must be renewed annually to comply with state guidelines.

Commissioners formally approved the 2026 holiday schedules for employees at the prison, courthouse, and 911 center. The action, described as an annual item handled during budget season, lists all holidays for county employees for the coming year and will be entered into the official meeting minutes.

Three personnel actions were approved, all in the public defender’s office and court administration. Sonia Naser and Joseph Siva Kumara Guru Paran were appointed as legal externs effective late August, while Taryn Picciurro was hired as a case coordinator, effective Sept. 8.

Thursday’s meeting also opened with recognition for telecommunicators Ryan Bartlett and Matt Yohn of the Mifflin County 911 Center, who were commended for their response to a July 29 fire in Derry Township. Both were credited with helping save a resident’s life by providing calm direction and ensuring rapid dispatch of emergency services, earning them a unit citation from Derry Township supervisors and public thanks from county officials.