Forest commissioners amend hotel tax to add online bookings

Forest County commissioners on Thursday extended the county hotel tax to include online bookings for overnight lodging.

Commissioners unanimously approved an ordinance that amends a previous ordinance to add the online bookings.

Revenue generated by the tax on hotel rooms funds county-wide tourist promotion, the commissioners said.

In other business Thursday, Commissioner Bob Snyder said the 4.5% match for the multimodal transportation fund grant has been waived for this year.

The county requested the grant money to fund the replacement of the Mayburg Bridge that was built in the 1800s and is now structurally unsound due to a lack of maintenance over the years, Snyder said.

Snyder added the county will know by early this fall if it received the grant money.

Commissioners unanimously approved the hire of Stephanie Puleo as a caseworker for Forest County Children and Youth Services. She had previously worked for Venango County Human Services.

Commissioners also unanimously approved the hiring of Tori Oberlander as the probation IP coordinator for Forest County.

Commissioners approved a motion to proclaim September as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness Month with the purpose of supporting national efforts to educate about and prevent fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

The panel will next meet at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 5, at the Forest County Courthouse in Tionesta.