Commissioners proclaim October National Disability Employment Awareness Month
Officials recognize organizers, approve agreements
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MIFFLINTOWN -- Juniata County Commissioners proclaimed October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month on Tuesday.
Commissioners recognized Kathy Whalen, administrator of the Juniata Valley Behavioral and Developmental Services, for her role in the organization that connects individuals with disabilities to employment opportunities, among other services.
According to Whalen, October 2026 marks the 81st anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
"The goal is to raise awareness of disability employment and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities," said Whalen.
Commissioners also proclaimed the week of Oct. 4 through Oct. 11 as Hunger Action Week. They honored Pastor Graham Fowler of the Lost Creek Presbyterian Church for his part in organizing the upcoming Juniata County CROP 5K Hunger Walk/Run on Sunday, Oct. 11.
According to the Church World Service website, the event aims to end hunger and poverty locally and around the world.
Commissioners approved an agreement between Juniata County 911 and the Pennsylvania State Police for talk groups to support officer safety and improve interoperability with 911 centers.
Adam Waite, 911 director, explained that this agreement will allow the county to access the state police radio channel, called situational awareness tiles.
"These tiles give the 911 center a listen-only feed on (Pennsylvania State Police's) radio network for situational awareness and allow (Pennsylvania State Police) to patch one of its channels to the county’s encrypted law enforcement channel if a situation arises," said Waite.
In other news, commissioners:
•Approved the payment of a Juniata County Hazardous Material check in the amount of $43.82;
• Approved the use of the County Records Improvement Fund to purchase a Brother multifunction printer at a total cost of $489.99 for court administration;
•Authorized the county administrator to execute a commercial energy sales agreement for consortium electricity purchasing as recommended by Provident Energy Consulting, LLC;
•Approved the Medical Assistance Transportation Program contract between the Juniata County Commissioners and Call-A-Ride Service for the contract period of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. The approved contract amount is $189,165;
•Approved the cleaning contract between Juniata County -- Children's Advocacy Center Development Grant and Emma Steininger for cleaning services. The rate agreed upon is $80 bi-weekly;
•Approved the purchase of service agreements for Juniata County Children and Youth Services with the Children's Aid Society of Franklin County as well as the Common Sense Adoption Services to provide child welfare services;
•Approved the August 2026 departmental report for the Juniata County Children and Youth Department;
•Approved hiring Lindsay Parson as a Juniata County Domestic Relations caseworker effective Sept. 28, 2026. Parson replaces April Yoder, who resigned as caseworker effective as of the end of business on July 3, 2026;
•Approved hiring Mackenzie Ciecierski as deputy register and recorder effective Oct. 5, 2026 as recommended by Alicia Seigler, register and recorder. Ciecierski will replace Tammy Casey, who is retiring at the end of 2026. Cieciersk's rate of pay will be $20.07 per hour;
•Approved hiring Selina Cleck, casual part-time within the register and recorder's office at the rate of $16.74 per hour as recommended by Alicia Seigler.
Juniata County Commissioners meet next in the Commissioners' conference room in the Juniata County Courthouse Annex at 10 a.m. on Oct. 13, 2026.