The labor shortage has had an impact on Clarion County townships, and a resolution was adopted at Thursday’s annual Clarion County Association of Township Officials convention that could help remedy the situation.
The resolution, submitted by Piney Township, would waive commercial drivers license requirements to operate vehicles owned by the township in townships with a population of less than 1,000 people.
Steve Ketner, president of the Township Officials Association, said the availability of operators is extremely low in some of the townships and that the cost to the townships is high.
In some other business at Thursday’s convention, which was held at Trinity Point Church of God, Jarred Heuer, the executive director of the Clarion County Economic Development Corp., talked about opportunities available through his agency.
Heuer highlighted two developments that involve his office — the Glassworks Business Park in Clarion and the renovation of the old truck stop at the Strattanville exit on Interstate 80.
“There are opportunities in all of the boroughs and all of the townships that I simply do not have visability to,” Heuer said. “If there is something in your area that you want to have more eyes on, our office can be a bridge for things you are unsure about. “
Approved roads are re-designed to protect streams from runoff. That is done by raising road elevations, reshaping banks, installing drainage pipes and planting natural buffers.
The majority of the applicants are townships.
Other speakers at the convention included state township association officials Chuck Stowe and George Bivens.
Several workshops and an open session were also held.
The slate of officers for the Clarion County Association of Township Officials for 2023 is president Steve Ketner, first vice president Harry Smathers, second vice president Dan George, secretary Steve Allison and assistant treasurer Lou Wilson.
The 2023 convention will be held Sept. 21.
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