LEWISTOWN — The Mifflin County Commissioners on Thursday advanced a major infrastructure project in Juniata Terrace, approving a series of resolutions and funding actions tied to a federally backed water main river crossing intended to improve long-term system reliability.

The votes followed a recessed portion of the regular meeting, during which commissioners held a public hearing on federal fiscal year 2025 Community Development Block Grant Competitive Program funding for the Juniata Terrace Water Main River Crossing Project. The project is intended to improve water infrastructure in Juniata Terrace and has been under development through the county and the SEDA-Council of Governments.

Following the hearing, the board adopted several resolutions required to move the project forward. Commissioners approved Fair Housing Resolution No. 1 of 2026; Resolution No. 2 of 2026, authorizing submission of the CDBG competitive application for the river crossing project; and Resolution No. 3 of 2026, appointing a Section 504 compliance officer and establishing a grievance procedure. Each action is required to maintain eligibility for federal funding.

The board also approved a change order for the federal fiscal year 2022 CDBG Competitive Juniata Terrace Water Main Replacement Project. The change order addressed a time extension only and did not alter the project cost. Commissioners then authorized Guyer Brothers Pay Application No. 3 in the amount of $298,422.93 for work already completed on that project.

Several other infrastructure and administrative items followed. Commissioners approved the schedule of tax claim fees and costs for 2026, which will take effect March 5. The fees are applied during the tax sale process and are set annually.

The board tabled an inmate telecommunications agreement with Combined Public Communications LLC related to a rate additive at the county jail, citing the possibility of pending changes to the agreement.

Commissioners also rejected two $700 offers to purchase county-owned properties in Lewistown Borough that remain in the repository for unsold parcels.

Governance matters were addressed earlier in the meeting. Commissioners reappointed Thomas Lake and Edward Mann to the Mifflin County Planning Commission for four-year terms. An earlier appointment of Russell Rager to the Mifflin County Municipal Authority for a five-year term was rescinded after Rager declined the position.

Labor-related business included approval of a memorandum of agreement with Teamsters Local Union No. 776 covering county lieutenants from Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2027.

Tax-related actions were taken later in the agenda. Commissioners approved requests from five local tax collectors to exonerate the county portion of 2025 per capita taxes that could not be collected, affecting accounts in Armagh, Brown, Menno and Oliver townships, as well as Kistler Borough. The board also authorized a $26.27 refund to a Brown Township property owner after an error was found in the recorded square footage of a dwelling, impacting taxes paid in 2024 and 2025.

Another vote relieved the county from pursuing delinquent real estate taxes on a Derry Township parcel purchased by the township. Commissioners exonerated the taxes and formally released Assistant Director of Tax Services Kathy Whitsel from further collection efforts on the property.

A series of personnel actions closed out the new business portion of the meeting. Commissioners approved the promotion of Hayden Spade from part-time to full-time corrections officer, effective Jan. 18, and the promotion of Christina Ennis from prison counselor to deputy warden of support services, effective Jan. 11.

The board rescinded the hiring of Amy Jo Kintzel for a part-time clerk position in the coroner’s office, effective Jan. 9, and rescinded the transfer of Sue Zimmerman from children and youth fiscal clerk to a tax services, voter and veterans clerk position, effective Jan. 26.

Commissioners accepted the resignation of Shari Spicher from her role as a part-time 911 telecommunicator, effective Jan. 28, and approved the promotion of William Myers to physical plant director, effective Feb. 2. The board also approved the transfer of Lonnie Griffith from physical plant director to project manager, effective Feb. 2.

Additional actions included acceptance of the resignation of Olivia Ehnsman from her position as a part-time corrections officer and intern, effective Jan. 20; the retirement of Corrections Officer Joseph Wilt, effective Feb. 7; the hiring of Christopher Gahagan as court tipstaff, effective March 1; and acceptance of the resignation of Douglas Marks from the same position, effective March 31.