Sullivan County Commissioners (seated above, from left) Brian Hoffman, Wylie Norton, and Donna Iannone; Chief Clerk Edna Schweitzer and Solicitor Kenneth Levitszy met at the courthouse in LaPorte (top) on Tuesday morning. Concerns ranged from flood damage in Hillsgrove to Sullivan County Room Tax disbursements.
Photos and story by Rick Hiduk
At their Dec. 13 public meeting, the Sullivan County Commissioners moved to submit a federal assistance application for erosion control in Hillsgrove and the stabilization of a house that was flooded on Oct. 21. The homeowners are eligible, Commissioner Brian Hoffman explained, because the structure is located within 50 feet of the intended stream bed mitigation project.
Commissioner Wiley Norton said that the home lost its backyard. Loyalsock Creek took away 16 feet of shoreline, exposing the basement of the house. The $153,316 project will include rebuilding the stream bank and backfilling to where the drop off is.
“It will also raise up the level of gravel and dirt against the lower part of the foundation and stabilize the structure,” he related. The application for $114,987 through NRCS (National Resources Conservation Service) was approved pending the state agreeing to cover the other 25 percent of the expected cost.
Changes in the PHARE Grant Application program were discussed after the commissioners approved an annual agreement with the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency. County Human Services Director Mark Roinick reported that Sullivan County had been awarded about $70,000 this year, which is disbursed based on need to help families having trouble making their rent payments.
The maximum household income for those eligible was lowered to $33,000, reflecting 65 percent of the county’s median income. Another change in the way the program is administered is that funds cannot be used in lieu of a security deposit. Disbursements are limited to three months of rent.
The commissioners reappointed Clair Black to the board of the Northern Tier Solid Waste Authority, noting that Black stands out among the many volunteers that represent Sullivan County.
“Clair has been extremely active with the Solid Waste Authority,” said Norton. “We’re very lucky to have him. It’s a lot of work.” Black’s current term will expire at the end of 2020.
The commissioners approved the payment of $117,238 in bills, the lion’s share being a fourth quarter contribution to the county employees retirement fund totaling $71,151.
Other key expenditures included $5,579 for Children & Youth Services and $17,293 to Columbia County Prison for October housing of Sullivan County inmates.
Norton could not provide an estimate as to how many prisoners are housed on average in Columbia County because the total includes medical expenses that fluctuate wildly from one month to another.
While the per diem cost is steady at $75 per prisoner per day ($2,250/month), one inmate recently was costing the county an extra $5,000 per month due to extreme medical needs.
Norton praised the relationship that Sullivan County has with the Columbia County Commissioners and prison officials. Sullivan County is guaranteed 10 to 12 beds at any time but rarely has that many inmates in the Columbia County system, Norton noted.
Some of those in attendance suggested that imprisoning first-time and low-level offenders is needlessly costing the county extra money.
Norton too questioned the notion that rehabilitation is even possible during a 30 day sentence. “That’s just my opinion,” he stated, adding, “The legislature is looking at knocking down (mandatory sentencing requirements) for minimal offenses.”
Juvenile offenders in Sullivan County who require secure detention and residential services will continue to be housed at the Northampton County Juvenile Justice Center as per an agreement renewed this morning between the Center and Sullivan County Children & Youth Services. The cost for providing secure detention is $250 per youth per day.
Sullivan County received $8,698 in state Room Tax funds and will distribute $8,000 of it among two county nonprofit organizations: The Sullivan County Ag Society and the Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce. The latter was awarded $1,500 for its next Taste-Full event and $2,500 toward the fall festival.
Norton noted that the amount of money the county receives next year should reflect a substantial increase in taxes collected, as the state imposes the room tax law on vacation rentals as well as hotels and BnBs.
The remaining $698 will be moved into next year’s fund.
Sullivan County Prothonotary Kellie Carpenter presented a report to the commissioners showing $12,478 in receipts and $9,245 in expenditures.
The next regular meeting of the Sullivan County Commissioners is set for Tuesday, Dec. 27 at 10 am.