The Board of Commissioners of Susquehanna County and the Susquehanna County Planning Commission are conducting a survey of residents. The survey is available to all County residents through a link on the County’s web page. Go to www.susqco.com and click on “Resident Survey”. A copy of the survey may also be obtained by calling the Planning Department at (570) 278-5950.
The County is in the process of updating its Comprehensive Development Plan. The survey is the first step in the effort to identify key growth and development issues to be addressed in the Plan Update. The survey provides the opportunity for County residents to participate in planning for the future of their County. Each resident should take the few minutes needed to complete the survey, and let County officials know their opinions and suggestions about the County’s future.
The Comprehensive Development Plan Update will address land use, open land preservation, natural resource conservation and environmental protection, the local economy, community facilities and services, housing conditions and affordability, and roads and highways. It will also establish goals and objectives for the future of the County and identify how County officials can best manage land use and growth and development. The County has obtained a grant from the PA Department of Community and Economic Development to pay for half the Plan Update.
Survey questions focus on issues that are the responsibility of the County or which are supported by the County. The County is seeking participation from as many residents as possible and all are encouraged to participate in the survey. The survey must be completed no later than May 31, 2017.
With deadlines looming for next year’s budget, the Blue Ridge School Board at its workshop on April 24th continued to deliberate over figures provided by the Business Office, for the most part nibbling around the edges on issues brought up before, and options for paring or paying for the projected deficit. The hearty “hamburger” soup (beef-vegetable) seemed to make the work a little easier.
Board President Chris Lewis started the meeting off by reporting on an earlier executive session that considered a proposal to be presented to the Susquehanna County Recreation Center organization. SCRC is negotiating with Blue Ridge for some land on which they hope to build a large community center. The Blue Ridge Board hosted a “town hall” in January to present the potential project to the community and to solicit comments and questions. The lightly-attended meeting in the auditorium was supposed to be followed by another later in the winter, but first weather interfered. Asked if another such town hall might be scheduled, Mr. Lewis said that SCRC’s schedule did not allow time for it. He said that the Blue Ridge proposal would be presented at a Board meeting real soon now.
Blue Ridge workshops review upcoming items on the agenda for the business meeting scheduled a week later. On a very long agenda, along with preliminary budget approval, the Board will consider the annual Child Evangelism Fellowship’s request for release time, an agreement with the Instructional Unit for special education services, and the choice of a medical director. Mr. Lewis also reported that the district’s request to the state Department of Education to skip 3 school days due to the heavy snowstorm last month was approved. Superintendent Matthew Button said that the 180-day requirement can be balanced against 900 hours in the elementary school and 990 hours in the middle/high school, and the schools are well within those limits.
During committee reports Board member Edward Arnold asked why a recent track meet was not stopped when rain made the venue slippery and unsafe. Mr. Button said that the event was under the supervision of a PIAA official (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association).
Christina Cosmello, the Board’s liaison with its representatives in Harrisburg, the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA), reported that Pennsylvania is 12th in the nation in per-pupil expenditure, yet way down the list in state financial support.
And Mr. Button announced a grant of $8,175 from DTE Energy for the purchase of a collection of Chromebook computers and a computer cart.
The budget of course was the main event of the evening. Business Manager Brian Dolan presented a new set of figures showing some changes from the last time that trimmed the projected deficit from over $1 million to a bit above $350,000. It was done in part by moving some projects into a capital improvement plan, and in part by shaving dollars here and there. For example, $157,900 was cut from the Middle/High School budget by reassessing the count of students expected to attend the Career and Technology Center at Elk Lake, and by postponing purchases of some musical instruments; all “contingency” funds were eliminated from the budget; contributions to the district’s self-funded health plan were reduced from a 10% increase to 8%. Student Services (special education) was cut by $185,000 by reducing payments to the IU and out-of district tuition; a special education teacher position was eliminated. However, administrators cautioned that special education requirements can change quickly and dramatically, depending on enrollment.
Altogether, Blue Ridge expects to spend just over $18 million during the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2017. There was an extended discussion of the athletics budget, particularly focused on varsity jackets, uniforms, and awards ceremonies; socks were a minor consideration this time.
Capital projects slated for next year total nearly $250,000 and include a large new generator to complete the emergency power backup system and will allow the campus to be used as a self-contained emergency shelter; adding a second well to the campus water system; some engineering studies on the parking lots; replacing lighting in the parking lots and in the auditorium with better and more efficient LED units; making a start on replacing the 25-year-old rooftop HVAC units. Mr. Dolan said that these projects require no new money. “We have the money; we’re not asking for money,” said he. At the tail end, Mr. Lewis asked his colleagues to go along with his recommendation to spend some to study the upper athletic fields, and to consider upgrading the signage, perhaps to include a digital marquee at the campus entrance.
The Blue Ridge Board has a week to consider the final details. The budget must be available to the public for a month before final adoption in June.
Dave Spence has reconnected with the Wilson F. Moore Memorial (WFMM) chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) by becoming its newest Board of Director member.
L to R: Dave Wilcox, new board member, Dave Spence, Tom Norville, Ace Cuevas, Al Hickok and Michele Cuevas
Members of the WFMM Board of Directors recently reached out to Dave and asked him if he would help them and once again become a Board of Director member. “In my previous terms on the Board I had enjoyed the friendships and knowing that we were making a difference in the reestablishment of the wild turkey. I have always been interested in making better wildlife habitat. I also knew that the Board had recently lost one of its key members, in a tragic accident. I figured that they could use some assistance, especially with the annual banquet coming up in early June. I wanted to help!”
Mr. Spence has been a member of the WFMM chapter of the NWTF since its inception in 1985. His lengthy history with the chapter includes a long stint 1992 - 2012 as its banquet chairman. He also served as the chapter’s President from the late 1990’s into the 2000’s.
His history as a turkey hunter dates back even further, his first turkey hunt in Susquehanna County was in 1972. Mr. Spence further elaborated, “I remember going hunting in 1972 with my father and Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) Conservation Officer Norm Forche. There were few native turkeys back then but they did exist. There were also turkeys that the PGC were releasing in an effort to get them reestablished as wild flocks in this county.”
If you would like to learn more about the NWTF or the local Wilson F. Moore Memorial Chapter contact Jack Sorber at 570-623-2105 or at 607-427-2230 or NWTF Regional Director Sean Langevin at slangevin@nwtf.net
Fire departments, schools, parks and townships are a few of the 44 Pennsylvania organizations that will receive $326,800 in funding this spring from Williams through its bi-annual community grant program. The total includes $7,750 that will be distributed to organizations in Susquehanna County.
One of the 44 recipients is the Northern Tier Industry and Education Consortium, which plans to use its $5,000 grant to assist in finding careers for area youth.
“This Atlantic Sunrise grant award will help us provide opportunities for hundreds of young people in northeast Pennsylvania to gain first-hand knowledge about careers and educational pathways for success,” said Marleen Butler, Educational Coordinator, NTIEC. “With support like this from Williams, we can continue connecting area schools with employers to facilitate development of a highly skilled workforce which ensures our communities continue to grow and prosper. Students and parents also appreciate getting a fix on career interests before spending precious tuition dollars for advanced education and training.”
Another Susquehanna County recipient is the Great Bend Hose Company, which plans to use its $2,750 grant to purchase a UTV trailer.
Grants up to $10,000 per applicant are being awarded by Williams to eligible organizations in communities where the proposed Atlantic Sunrise pipeline project would be constructed and operated. Today’s announcement represents the fifth grant award cycle since the program was initiated in 2015. Since then, Williams has announced total awards of more than $1.79 million across the entire Atlantic Sunrise project area, including $59,750 in Susquehanna County.
Two cycles of Atlantic Sunrise grant awards are announced each year (spring and fall). This cycle’s grant dollars were dispersed in the following broad categories: emergency response ($151,200), education ($55,600) and recreation or community enhancement projects ($120,000).
Grant applications can be completed online at www.williams.com/atlanticsunrise. Applications must be received between March 1 and September 1.
