Pennsylvania Emergency Management Director Bill Barker honored two Clarion County employees on Tuesday during the Clarion County commissioners meeting on Tuesday morning.
Emergency Management Director Randall Stahlman was presented with a certificate for becoming a “professional” and Clarion County Director of Public Safety Jeff Smathers received an award for “basic” certification.
Pennsylvania law requires the emergency management coordinator at each level of government earn two levels of certification. A large part of the certification involves completing training offered by PEMA or the Federal Emergency Management Institute.
“There are three areas: basic, advanced and professional. It takes some years to get the advanced. It is a combination of training, professional development and courses you have to take.”
In presenting the basic certification award to Smathers, Barker said, “It takes a lot of time and effort to do this, and it is voluntary. We would like to see that throughout the commonwealth.”
In two items related to Emergency Management, the commissioners approved McCutcheon Enterprises, of Apollo, as the county’s hazardous materials response team. McCutcheon has been the hazmat team for the county since 2006.
“McCutcheon has been very responsible,” said Stahlman.
In other business
– The county approved a rental agreement of the garage at the former Clarion Ford dealership on Route 322. Commissioner Ted Tharan said the county could store emergency equipment in the garage as well as the county’s snowplows.
The county will pay only for the cost of heating and electricity. The agreement is on a month-to-month basis. The county has the right of first refusal to purchase the building.
Stahlman said the emergency equipment was previously housed at several fire departments, but the fire departments needed space for their own vehicles.
– The county awarded funds for liquid fuels projects. Liquid fuel funds are collected through a gasoline tax and distributed by the state.
Regarding the awarding of liquid fuels grants, Commissioner Ed Heasley said the county had received aid requests from 16 municipalities for 25 proposed projects totaling $793,061.
The county had only $102,000 available for the projects. The county was able to fund nine of the projects.
Those projects were: The Eagle Furnace Road paving project, Beaver Township, $30,000; a seal coat project in Ashland Township, $6,126; Larkin Road sealcoat, Licking Township, $8,250; Turkey City Road, Salem Township seal coating, $8,350; Frogtown Road, Limestone Township, $11,921; Shorb Street project, Sligo Borough, $14,202; State Route 861 inlet replacement, New Bethlehem Borough, $2,400; guide rail replacement on Wild Cat Church Road, Madison Township, $10,000; and Mets Road paving, Richland Township, $10,000.
– Smathers was reappointed as the county’s representative to the Northwest Central PA. Emergency Response Group.
– The commissioners approved several items relating to the corrections department.
Miranda Baumcratz was repositioned from temporary full-time corrections officer to full-time corrections officer.
The salary of corrections officers Matthew Mitchell and Blaze Hildebrand were increased to $10.75 per hour and two new corrections officers were hired, Connor Dame and Ronald Lemmon, to fill the position of part-time corrections officer.
– At the county’s salary board meeting, the board created the position of part-time deputy warden in charge of training and treatment. The position will be for no more than 29 hours with a salary range of $17 to $23 per hour.
– The commissioners approved two agreements on behalf of Children and Youth Services: with BI Inc. for unit rental and monitoring services, at a cost between 83 cents and $4.34 per day, and with NHS Pennsylvania for foster services, at a cost of $25 to $100 per day. The county has a 20 percent match for both agreements.
– The commissioners approved the hiring of Mindy Frampton to fill the vacant position of confidential administrative assistant. The position is for 35 hours per week at a salary of $27,300.
– The commissioners appointed Fred Anderson, Roger Nulph and Tom Spence to the Clarion County Planning Commission. The new term will run from Jan. 1, 2019, to Dec. 31, 2022.
– The commissioners appointed Rodrick Stevenson, Dana Gatesman and Dave Cox to the Clarion County Airport Authority. The new term will run from Jan. 1, 2019, to Dec. 31, 2021.
– Reappointed to the Clarion County Housing Authority was Dave Cyphert. His new term will run from Jan. 1, 2019, to Dec. 31, 2023.
– The commissioners approved a Preferred Training Partnership agreement with Butler County Community College for 2019 for the purpose of firefighter training. The total cost is $2,500 with the county paying $1,000. Last year the county’s firefighters attended 16 classes.
The next meeting of the board of commissioners will be Wednesday, Dec. 26, at 9 a.m. at the county administrative building.