[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6310360,"mediaKeyId","2402800-c76e52aac0009163c601bb24aff181bb","parentId",2402800,"title","Manager Romilda Crocamo outlines year of service and infrastructure investments in Luzerne County state-of-the-county presentation","audioSeconds",4049,"startMs",2323000,"endMs",6372000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2402800-c76e52aac0009163c601bb24aff181bb&start=2323&end=6372","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2402800-c76e52aac0009163c601bb24aff181bb/thumbnail_2323000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6310360/Luzerne-County/Pennsylvania/Manager-Romilda-Crocamo-outlines-year-of-service-and-infrastructure-investments-in-Luzerne-County-state-of-the-county-presentation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6310360-cc1744891674ea12e7ef0fd4ed21356f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437759&Signature=RpINbnRie5LBiEWnTcbfGEO9dC~J8Uul9jm1fgineyJeo~afMOaCw1~5Boje-aJqk91ARsTAa4QeMdN8o1xHOJ90KauK9RaTOSB4At-7n4xjk9LOfs3uGKP9UH7oiR7kEBKvS4K-oKlGmfvGfxuN107nRzWd75cKxfVk72jKge-HNzMQ9rKrstDddZBviJy5K16ZGmI1IzHjbHjy7rIsj7QaOYg5rlQALN2pZNqKvWBBRU90JXMy4EDKBsO1~qWvP4XBbFr6dCu6R4j4KWmp3FWlHdNIEZhPVSlOHrlMbtDOGySI-WA0RLiBpioK~yBjgtHnFp7HpG2MOwIZlvvWfA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Luzerne County, PA","date","2025-02-26T14:22:25Z","article","Luzerne County Manager Romilda Crocamo delivered a wide-ranging state-of-the-county presentation at the council work session, summarizing county services, community-development spending and infrastructure plans for 2025.

Cro c a mo told council the county maintained a workforce of more than 1,400 employees and continued services, investments and pension funding “without increasing taxes.” She credited coordinated planning and said the county prioritized infrastructure, public safety and human services while seeking grant funding and maintaining fiscal discipline.

Key items Crocamo highlighted included more than $2.6 million expended under Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) programs for municipal infrastructure projects; emergency rental-assistance spending of roughly $42.6 million that the manager said assisted more than 13,400 households; and a “whole-home repairs” program that has completed dozens of homes with roughly $1.17 million in payments (figures presented by administration staff during the address).

Cro c a mo described year-to-date support for community organizations, including a $400,000 CDBG award for the Freeland YMCA so the facility could remain open. She also listed election operations accomplishments from 2024: implementation of enhanced election-security measures, online poll-worker training, and more efficient communications tools; the bureau processed thousands of absentee and in-person ballot requests and undertook voter-roll maintenance activities.

On public safety and emergency management, Crocamo previewed this spring’s emergency-management training schedule, including advanced incident-command courses and Skywarn trainings in March and April designed to improve local severe-weather reporting and response. She also announced county plans to update hazard-mitigation planning and to consolidate emergency-management operations over time.

Operations and infrastructure investments Crocamo described include multiple road and bridge projects scheduled for spring construction and targeted building upgrades. She said Luzerne County will invest in several repaving and bridge projects and estimated the county’s infrastructure program will total more than $20 million across multiple funding streams.

Cro c a mo also noted progress in corrections and human services: the county expanded medically assisted treatment in the correctional facility, restarted school-based child-services units in two school districts, and launched programs to support reentry using certified recovery specialists funded by opioid-settlement dollars.

Manager Crocamo closed by urging continued collaboration with state and federal representatives and calling for sustained attention to workforce and service-delivery challenges. The presentation was informational; council members thanked administration staff and asked to receive follow-up detail on specific departmental needs and upcoming grants.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Live Luzerne County Council Meeting 2/25/25","oneSentenceSummary","County Manager Romilda Crocamo told council the county maintained services without raising taxes, highlighted community-development outlays and infrastructure projects and previewed emergency-management and public-safety training and investments for 2025.","taxTitle","Luzerne County, Pennsylvania","taxId",18154,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6310365,"Luzerne County Council approves budget and grant resolutions in unanimous roll calls",141,661000,802000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2402800-c76e52aac0009163c601bb24aff181bb&start=661&end=802","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2402800-c76e52aac0009163c601bb24aff181bb/thumbnail_661000.jpg","/articles/6310365/Luzerne-County/Pennsylvania/Luzerne-County-Council-approves-budget-and-grant-resolutions-in-unanimous-roll-calls","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6310365-39558c5235044d56c7130aa7cbca0e79/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437759&Signature=OhhGzXjHbB1z3ll6K8BOOzsEGsxqzIGxXSAx50qYVTOPjjYSDmZie-2rYQ-4tfmxcEL-8NrHC2-0TSuJFI5T-1zTwSCJ3Y7DgRMLmlLCy8SNnJtx4E2Zt6KMGqO1Pk-KFJ~C7I-JK9xKDsikQPqvH3CwsPlZdXi-9U0GZfo1AyE58hvPcAw1RorNxL9rOG6Nuu-o5i5IDfbA7xpzgUfAqzqbXnE~4Yivdk3ThL0bpG1DQj2HDaE-KLqlPtCDpjbgtRY9CjKX2H9kPR0NpoRmOP8IUOJb8f7eeY7ENP~q9YgCak-cgJt4fdo2dfxzq~Qx12o4SIBuwP6JgZJNj3pW1Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Luzerne County Council unanimously approved four measures during the voting session, adopting an ordinance and three resolutions by roll call votes.

The actions approved were: adoption of an ordinance amending the 2025 general fund budget for a district-attorney gun-violence initiative; authorization for the county manager to apply for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding for Wilkes-Barre Wyoming Valley Airport; authorization for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to use a county-owned road as a temporary detour; and adoption of a resolution to submit a Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) grant application.

Each item passed on a recorded voice roll call with unanimous support from the council. The clerk recorded the votes as unanimous approval; no abstentions or no votes were reported.

","At the voting session the council unanimously adopted an ordinance to amend the 2025 general-fund budget for a DA gun-violence initiative and three resolutions authorizing grant applications and temporary road use; all four measures passed by roll call.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6310370,"County energy-broker exclusivity draws questions from outside consultant; council agrees to consider topic at a future work session",305,822000,1127000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2402800-c76e52aac0009163c601bb24aff181bb&start=822&end=1127","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2402800-c76e52aac0009163c601bb24aff181bb/thumbnail_822000.jpg","/articles/6310370/Luzerne-County/Pennsylvania/County-energy-broker-exclusivity-draws-questions-from-outside-consultant-council-agrees-to-consider-topic-at-a-future-work-session","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6310370-661e44da2b8a79d8a0967d5fdf646ded/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437759&Signature=F77BVqB~sNb0sLT3qlKhtxkFOR7RN8RXyulpyYeylJ5b2HBOJiOMf-zFwteHmLy~vpV2SAES3PmMLhEltCkWTKoGrnK2QHsVF~aF95sukZB-CN3jRmh~lgi9i7U7EbVVNTGDg2KDc7ZTBFVHp6rbFqN8HLQ1HU6RCTkjyN4bOsaZ8nu7hShLvdefAuxQ-xtoPoDh~OVTdI0lNxd9L50wYC98tzpKDYLk68fflAuVNFc5uX-nl-i~Wte2pMESneD7Gdi0Ah15Z~arWQC~x~KyYnp0e~RHdPXfSxjUoAMDTEu43b6oDLxk~x~mX2BDB2tOIRiq9bCexlbeagKbiGJtVQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Luzerne County contractor and consultant raised concerns during public comment that the county’s vendor arrangement for electric supply brokerage could cost the county thousands of dollars per year more than alternatives, and council agreed to consider the matter in a future work session.

Tony Gallagher, who identified himself as a principal with Key Energy Consulting, told council he had not filed a proposal for the county’s recent brokerage bid because an exclusive arrangement with World Connect Energy was already in place. Gallagher said World Connect told the county its fee would be $2.25 per megawatt-hour, an increase from the roughly $0.25 per megawatt-hour fee Key Energy said it used to charge.

“Luzerne County consumes 7,000 megawatt hours a year,” Gallagher said. “If you're raising your broker fees by $2, your broker fees go up by $14,000.” He added that supplier margins could raise that figure further and that his supply partner, WGL Energy, had previously saved the county about $670,000 versus the utility comparator price during a prior three-year period.

Gallagher said he was discouraged from bidding on the county procurement after receiving communications indicating World Connect Energy would shop prices for the county, and he recommended the county consider an open RFP. When County Attorney asked whether Gallagher had filed an RFP, Gallagher said he had not.

Councilmember Smith and other council members agreed the topic merited fuller discussion in a work session so staff and bidders could answer questions; council gave no formal direction or vote during the meeting.

","A consultant told Luzerne County Council the county’s exclusive broker arrangement may increase costs to taxpayers and discouraged alternative bids; council discussed scheduling a work-session discussion but took no formal action.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6310375,"Four vendors present competing media strategies to Luzerne County opioid commission; county will review proposals",2907,6383000,9290000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2402800-c76e52aac0009163c601bb24aff181bb&start=6383&end=9290","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2402800-c76e52aac0009163c601bb24aff181bb/thumbnail_6383000.jpg","/articles/6310375/Luzerne-County/Pennsylvania/Four-vendors-present-competing-media-strategies-to-Luzerne-County-opioid-commission-county-will-review-proposals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6310375-c9d5313581a6bf8ccc02f44b1c6fe0cf/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437759&Signature=APYWrCBpsYv17zpmwilFSK~TO8rpujPux-sWfqPliJA-O7Sa7TLXFuZ80Z1JzPcwbRdRKuoSesjpoyUMQjmCXKbdW-wKTKPvQQcFti0~1JY4yQnOfx~7Uzs1uxCQLbyKrQD6edKJXSwxs38ujyU94AQ9vOQWrOwU6kFqlFIWo4RAskcgnQ68BUC1D1yaJMEP2plZ~h6N3dYVQQCK4iZ6fdunKuQVykeLJ9IMQujyBcF2bzyujwFHyYOkbilSiuUB7P5L3QtC0LTfhj33PpkrGEf1OVLa5zOcwxs8yBwabhnngUi~CutiEKG4-sZoYiFxA26-CA1EYnKLln160P7zNA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Four marketing and media firms presented competing plans to Luzerne County Council and the opioid commission for a multimedia public-education campaign funded from opioid settlement dollars.

Presenters described creative concepts, distribution plans and metrics they said would raise awareness of fentanyl risks, expand Narcan access and promote treatment and harm-reduction resources.

Sarah Clark of Kudu Creative described “Fake is Real,” a fentanyl-awareness campaign the firm created for Northampton County. Clark said her firm has distributed more than 1,000 Narcan kits and used mass direct mail — 50,000 mailings — to distribute Deterra drug-disposal pouches. “If everybody used those pouches, that would eliminate over 6 million pills not reaching the street,” she said, citing the campaign’s distribution metrics.

Courtney Schegda of 7 Mountains Media proposed a multichannel “Hope and Help” campaign centered on a county-specific website, targeted streaming and radio placements, and digital tactics tailored by ZIP code and behavior to reach residents and caregivers. “We want it to be hand in hand with other media partners in the county,” Schegda said, adding that the vendor would provide monthly analytics.

Ed Hart, director of sales at WNEP-TV, told council his station would emphasize news-based storytelling and local-focused segments, combined with streaming inventory and targeted OTT (over-the-top) delivery. “We have the largest website. We have a streaming app… Tens of millions of minutes every single month,” Hart said, arguing the station’s reach in Luzerne County would maximize exposure.

A WBRE/WYOU representative proposed a five-pillar strategy built around video and targeted streaming and said the firm expected it could deliver roughly 90 million educational impressions over a year to Luzerne County residents. The presenter said a total multimedia package across five pillars would cost about $985,000 and noted the county has been awarded more than $32 million in opioid-settlement funds to date.

Council members and staff stressed that the presentations were informational; the opioid commission—not council—will weigh funding recommendations. Manager Romilda Crocamo and commission members present said the commission has not made decisions and will continue reviewing applicants and budgets. The council scheduled no vote; presentations and slide decks will be posted for the public and the commission to consider.

","Kudu Creative, 7 Mountains Media, WNEP and WBRE/WYOU presented creative and media plans for county opioid-settlement-funded public education; proposals ranged from billboards and direct mail to targeted streaming and video, and the opioid commission will evaluate next steps.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6310380,"Luzerne County council opens further review after lengthy public debate over proposed responsible-contractor ordinance",2216,556000,2772000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2402800-c76e52aac0009163c601bb24aff181bb&start=556&end=2772","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2402800-c76e52aac0009163c601bb24aff181bb/thumbnail_556000.jpg","/articles/6310380/Luzerne-County/Pennsylvania/Luzerne-County-council-opens-further-review-after-lengthy-public-debate-over-proposed-responsible-contractor-ordinance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6310380-b7285e5a577fff6b8bf167f35cd4feb7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437759&Signature=S9Brr2X1fiRu6eEOhIswCuVGaBGBCfXahnDvhPawaFkxsjdrG0szhdUroKSFo7kjYitWwehQ5c6e58-1VkAA8j352fzWybVvwialLlJrSaQl109bU6Jlts2fOuKYyUFRWklfq4~KfgbzS8DxoDdwJJL6Mu9N0YTl7vbXxHEOjpclOQNnp9t5aGsHraSxOogmT2LcaNdd3IRkGZpRU2XQP7KI-UjVnkdSyQ4zhkdQO2I6DvVAIAhj3naJubbaWWDloydSwSZVVTI7jeTnZg5XB7cvjkZHkbeeTyTX-BWA~1B5vGeuwaUJlvXjcC4Mlfx1ScZ0Dwqz47wcQBlwqX1urA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Luzerne County Council heard extended public comment and councilmember questions about a proposed responsible-contractor ordinance (RCO) during the council work session, with organized labor and contractors presenting sharply different views.

Supporters framed the ordinance as a public-safety and workforce-development measure that would prioritize trained local workers on county projects. Opponents said the draft language risks excluding small or nonunion contractors and asked council to clarify key definitions before moving forward.

The draft ordinance would require participating firms to employ graduates of a state- or federally-registered apprenticeship program or an “equivalent” training pathway for certain craft classifications, and raises the procurement threshold for covered projects from $100,000 to $250,000 in several sections of the draft. The ordinance also includes provisions for safety training standards and other procurement requirements.

“Responsible contract ordinance protects taxpayers by preventing contractors who cut corners and hire untrained workers to cut costs from winning projects,” said Larry Diminsky, a member of Laborers Local 130, who described apprenticeship programs as “the best possible learning and safety models.”

Several union-affiliated speakers described apprenticeship training as a route to steady, local careers. “These are people that want to train the next generation of workers,” said Casey McGovern, a welding instructor and member of Sheet Metal Workers Local 44. Travis Buchanan, a Local 44 member who described himself as a recent apprentice, said the ordinance would help “push apprenticeship programs in our schools” and keep work local.

The Associated Builders and Contractors’ Keystone chapter warned the ordinance, as written, could leave project types uncovered by registered apprenticeship programs. “When it comes to apprenticeship…there is no demolition apprenticeship in Pennsylvania,” Jim Wilshire, representing ABC Keystone, told council and urged the county to consider other indicators of contractor safety and competence such as insurance experience-modification rates, bonding and debarment records.

Warren Faust, who identified himself as representing regional building trades, told council that responsible-contracting laws have survived legal challenges elsewhere and supplied data showing registered apprenticeship programs across Pennsylvania. “Responsible contracting ordinances are legal,” he said, and cited county and federal litigation in support.

Opponents framed the ordinance as exclusionary. “This is about excluding good contractors…because they don't have an apprenticeship,” said Greg Griffin, a resident who said he completed a five-year electrical apprenticeship; he characterized the measure as politically motivated and likely to disadvantage small private contractors.

Council members asked for clearer definitions before a formal introduction. Councilmember McDermott highlighted one outstanding issue: the draft’s use of the word “equivalent” for non-registered training and asked whether the ordinance should require explicit state or federal registration or list objective equivalency criteria. She also flagged the three-of-five-years participation standard and asked how current local contractors would be treated.

Chair members agreed the draft requires additional work. The council directed that the ordinance be referred to the Legislative Committee for more detailed review of definitions, thresholds and potential county-preference language. No vote on the ordinance was taken.

The discussion underscored competing priorities: protecting taxpayer-funded work from contractors alleged to use low-skilled labor while ensuring smaller local companies are not inadvertently excluded. The Legislative Committee will return a revised draft or recommendations to the full council in a future meeting.

","Council members heard more than two hours of public comment for and against a proposed responsible-contractor ordinance (RCO) that would set apprenticeship and other hiring standards for vendors on county projects; council referred the draft to the Legislative Committee for additional work and definitions.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Manager Romilda Crocamo outlines year of service and infrastructure investments in Luzerne County state-of-the-county presentation

Luzerne County Council approves budget and grant resolutions in unanimous roll calls

County energy-broker exclusivity draws questions from outside consultant; council agrees to consider topic at a future work session

Four vendors present competing media strategies to Luzerne County opioid commission; county will review proposals

Luzerne County council opens further review after lengthy public debate over proposed responsible-contractor ordinance