Garrett Berry and Nicholas Smith of Juniata County Conservation District, accept a proclamation for Conservation District Week

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Howdy McGinnis, 911 telecommunicator, accepts a proclamation for National Public Safety Telecommunications Week.

MIFFLINTOWN — Juniata County Commissioners recognized conservation efforts and emergency communications personnel during their meeting Tuesday, issuing proclamations for Conservation District Week and National Public Safety Telecommunications Week.

Commissioners presented a proclamation to Nicholas Smith, a resource operations technician with the Juniata County Conservation District, designating April 26 through May 2 as Conservation District Week.

Smith said the conservation district focuses on educating students and residents to understand and apply environmental and scientific principles to real-world land and natural resource challenges.

On Tuesday, 85 students from Juniata and Mifflin counties participated in the Envirothon, an environmental education competition hosted by the two counties’ conservation districts. The event tests students’ knowledge in areas such as soils and land use, aquatic biology, forestry and wildlife, along with a current issues topic.

“Each year the students are tested in soils and land use, aquatic biology, forestry, wildlife, and this year’s current issues,” Smith said.

Smith said his role includes watershed protection, recycling initiatives and educational outreach. He noted that the district works with landowners to address land and water resource concerns through voluntary conservation practices.

The conservation district completed four restoration projects and launched a new lawn preservation initiative last year, Smith said. Plans for this year include a stream restoration project along Willow Run Road in state game lands beginning in July, as well as two additional lawn preservation projects.

The district will host an electronics recycling event Saturday, April 25. Smith said 62 participants recycled more than 700 pounds of electronics at last year’s event. Additional events include a tire recycling program scheduled for Sept. 19 and a new household hazardous waste collection event on Nov. 7 for items such as pesticides, pool chemicals and paint.

Educational programs also continue, including Enviro Camp for first- and fourth-grade students in June and Ag Tour Day in October, held in partnership with Penn State Extension and local school districts. The programs aim to teach students about agriculture, watershed science and environmental stewardship.

Smith also noted a recent rain barrel workshop, during which 17 barrels were distributed to local families through grant funding.

Commissioners also issued a proclamation to 911 telecommunicator Howdy McGinnis, recognizing April 12-18 as National Public Safety Telecommunications Week.

McGinnis emphasized the importance of emergency dispatch personnel and noted that residents have the ability to text 911 in emergencies.

In other business, commissioners approved a resolution regulating outdoor burning in Juniata County from April 23 through May 21, as presented by Emergency Management Director William Hummel.

Commissioners also:

Approved Mollie Klinger as an unpaid intern with Juniata County Children and Youth Services, effective May 7;

Ratified a Community Development Block Grant payment for Mid Atlantic Storage Systems in the amount of $172,279.01;

Approved multiple service agreements for Children and Youth Services providers for the 2026-27 fiscal year;

Approved a cleaning services contract with KP’s Cleaning Service through Sept. 30;

Approved the county’s 2025-27 Victims of Crime Act Year Two continuation grant proposal;

Reviewed departmental reports from Adult and Juvenile Probation and the office of Magisterial District Judge Tracy Powell;

Approved a collective bargaining agreement with Service Employees International Union Local 668 for 2026-29;

Ratified a hazardous materials payment to Wex Bank in the amount of $141.72;

Approved tax exonerations for multiple municipalities; and

Approved the hiring of Janean Foster as a Children and Youth Services caseworker, effective April 22.