LEWISTOWN — The Mifflin County Commissioners on Thursday awarded contracts totaling more than $2.2 million for Phase 2 of the Mifflin County Library project, advancing long-planned renovations that will include a new community learning center benefiting Penn State Extension and 4-H programs.

Mid-State Construction received the general construction contract for $1.67 million, Allied Mechanical was awarded $365,000 for mechanical work, and Robert P. Lepley Electrical Contractor will handle electrical installation for $220,335.

Commissioner Robert Postal said funding from state grants will cover 90% of the project’s cost, with the county supplementing the rest.

The meeting began with presentations from Penn State Extension, where Jeff Hackenberg, client relationship manager, introduced two key figures now serving Mifflin County residents — Allison Yocum, the new Master Gardener Coordinator, and Sonya Nace, Extension Educator and Nutrition Links Supervisor.

Hackenberg described a growing volunteer base of 25 Master Gardeners, including 16 county residents, whose work includes maintaining the demonstration garden at the Mifflin County Library and teaching agricultural lessons through programs like the “Incredible Plants” workshop for third graders. Yocum’s group will next host a winter sowing workshop on Jan. 24 at the Mifflin County Extension Office, where residents can learn to grow native plants using recycled jugs.

Nace, who recently added Mifflin County to her service region, outlined programs supporting family and community well-being. Her efforts include mental health first aid, suicide prevention, financial literacy, and healthy aging courses, alongside the ServSafe food safety certification for local producers. “It’s great to bring these things home to my neighbors,” Nace said, noting plans to restart the ServSafe program this fall.

Commissioners later moved through several tax-related items, approving exonerations for four Wayne Township residents and real estate relief for three Lewistown and Derry Township parcels, including one destroyed by fire and two granted Veterans Affairs tax exemptions.

Chief Assessor Merry Bratton requested, and received, approval for a two-week extension of the Tax Services CAMA Project go-live date to Feb. 9. She said the adjustment allows more time to verify data accuracy without affecting costs.

In development business, the board accepted a $200 bid for a small Granville Township parcel in the county’s repository for unsold properties. Commissioners also appointed J-Way Architectural of Summerhill as the architect for the Civic Corridor Initiative, a grant-driven improvement effort.

Emergency Management Director Phil Lucas presented two agreements with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency — one accepting $26,641 in 911 interconnectivity funding, and another recognizing Eagle Response Services of Milesburg as the county’s certified hazmat team. Lucas explained that specialized certification, not proximity, determines the designation.

The board also renewed a $35,000 legal services contract with public defender Morgan Dubbs and reappointed Jerry Wagner as prison board solicitor at $125 per hour. Commissioners approved continued membership in the Central Counties Youth Detention Center Board, with all three commissioners serving as representatives. The county’s annual operating agreement with the center sets a daily rate of $667 per youth, plus a $68,354 owner’s fee.

Additional reappointments included Russell Rager to the Industrial Development Authority, Micaela Mills to the Housing Authority, and Michael Ammon, Raymond Snyder, William Haughwout, and Jay Spicher to the Agricultural Land Preservation Board, with Haughwout named chair.

The board renewed a contract with BMZ Law of Lewistown to continue as county solicitor at $3,125 per month and approved a $4,543 cybersecurity training agreement with KnowBe4 for county employees.

Community development work also advanced through a $209,691 payment to Guyer Brothers for the Juniata Terrace Water Main project and a revision to reallocate leftover CDBG funds from the Hawstone sewer project back to single-family housing rehabilitation.

Finally, the county approved a 2026 inmate housing agreement with Huntingdon County and several personnel actions:

-The resignation of Shania Shingler, Tax Services Clerk, effective Dec. 31, 2025.

-The promotion of Holly Bonson from Second Deputy Prothonotary to First Deputy Prothonotary, effective Feb. 2, 2026.

-The hiring of Amy Jo Kintzel as a part-time clerk in the Coroner’s Office, effective Jan. 9, 2026.

-The hiring of Hannah Roland as a Children and Youth Caseworker, effective Jan. 12, 2026.

-The resignation of Hunter Johns, Children and Youth Caseworker, effective Jan. 23, 2026.

-The transfer of Sue Zimmerman from Children and Youth Fiscal Clerk to Tax Services/Voter/Veterans Clerk, effective Jan. 26, 2026.

-The retirement of Christopher Gahagan, Deputy Prothonotary, effective Jan. 30, 2026.