[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6094954,"mediaKeyId","2841380-4466083b871ac52edd54c153b7d03c09","parentId",2841380,"title","Votes at a glance: Lebanon County commissioners approve grants, personnel changes, proclamations and plan contract","audioSeconds",4692,"startMs",1076000,"endMs",5768000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2841380-4466083b871ac52edd54c153b7d03c09&start=1076&end=5768","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2841380-4466083b871ac52edd54c153b7d03c09/thumbnail_1076000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6094954/Lebanon-County/Pennsylvania/Votes-at-a-glance-Lebanon-County-commissioners-approve-grants-personnel-changes-proclamations-and-plan-contract","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6094954-e33d416842907b7c7c8744b31776e10b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770614611&Signature=RNw8F2VKq0CgNAfJ7LECU-SZgAoED6vtQyGUv2-esdsKwrE42YziaKHujR9oWK2vhRfPRlJZAz~n~fTA5wtS3xvduVcyMWMviKpY2FkSmEAfheTOJcHeXyfIm2HBRzBOMLZc9HuIKulHK~9yidrRW7wPtMjkUhvFPeBsmejWqv2MbZaPWuL4rJmrLcF2nJvc6B-kbwEkSry6Eyxm-5kPbXvsW2En8LCFScqmQNYkbeKP8eFxE8tHi2mUUSlcev2mXgpB3ZVQiAM5I-ky3tsiZ2-DA2sxOP8rwBUA2OJRbrxbjlC1tme9~B-mwo7tQiP5r3V3fv3eYvIaDuw766oKTg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lebanon County, PA","date","2025-03-31T21:00:47Z","article","The Lebanon County Commissioners at their March 20 meeting approved a set of routine and substantive items including personnel transactions, a modification to an intermediate punishment grant budget, an extension to a LERTA timeline for a Palmyra redevelopment project, authorization to serve as a pass-through grantee for an exposition hall grant, and proclamations recognizing community organizations.

Key votes and outcomes (summary):

- Minutes and agenda changes: The board approved minutes from the March 6 meeting and voted to amend the agenda as requested (motions approved by voice vote).

- Finance and receipts: County receipts and expenditures for March were presented and accepted (receipts $1,081,023.09; total cash $8,464,366.76; expenditures $1,685,223.02; balance noted $6,720,119.43).

- Recorder of Deeds courthouse use: The recorder of deeds requested use of the courthouse for a Saturday customer service event; commissioners approved the request and noted volunteers would be used (motion approved by voice vote).

- Personnel transactions and salary-board actions: The commissioners approved multiple resignations, retirements, promotions, reclassifications, and new hires across county departments (children & youth, corrections, area agency on aging, courts, sheriff's office, recorder of deeds). Specific approvals included reclassifying a part-time aging case aide 2 to full-time (funded, effective 03/30/2025) and adding interpreter pay for a position (prorated to begin 04/01/2025). All were approved by voice vote.

- Intermediate punishment (IP) grant modification: John Schott, Office of Probation Services, asked to modify the FY 2024-25 intermediate punishment grant to reduce expenditures by $8,216 (largely unspent costs associated with a facility dog and lower travel expenses). Commissioners approved the modification by voice vote.

- LERTA extension (Ventura Real Estate): Jack DeChico requested a three-year extension to file a LERTA exemption application for a Palmyra redevelopment site (requested new deadline September 1, 2028). After some concern about expired timelines and a commissioner’s objection noting other taxpayers do not receive such extensions, the board approved the extension by voice vote.

- Lebanon Valley Expo Center RACP grant pass-through: Patrick Kerwin asked the county to serve as pass-through grantee for a $4,000,000 Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) award for a new exposition hall. Commissioners approved serving as the pass-through entity (motion approved; expo center said it will reimburse any county filing or legal fees and funds will not be disbursed until project completion and inspection).

- Proclamations and recognitions: Commissioners adopted proclamations recognizing American Red Cross Month and Pennsylvania 4‑H Week and approved proclamations for PA 811 Safe Digging Month and Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month (all by voice vote).

- County comprehensive plan contract: Julie Janian (Planning Department) and Michelle Breber (project manager, Gannett Fleming) presented the scope for the county comprehensive plan update with partial funding from the state Municipal Assistance Program. Commissioners voted to adopt the contract/scope and proceed with kickoff work.

- Office on Aging security upgrade: The board approved a $11,520.74 proposal from Reeth Locksmith to install four card-proximity readers and one visual intercom at the Office on Aging; the Office on Aging will fund the project from vacant-position savings and cover all costs (motion approved by voice vote).

- Hotel tax grant and exemptions: The commissioners approved a $400 hotel-tax grant request for a Pullman Park 5K and approved a disabled veteran real-estate tax exemption for an eligible applicant in Palmyra.

- RACP relinquishment notification: The board approved notifying the Commonwealth that a previously awarded RACP grant (awarded 2019 to WellSpan for a medical office project with the county as pass-through) will be relinquished; commissioners approved the notification.

Several items were approved by unanimous voice votes with no recorded roll-call tallies in the transcript. Where discussion occurred (for example the LERTA extension) the transcript shows at least one commissioner raised objections but the motions carried by voice vote.

Ending: Commissioners concluded the meeting after routine business and closed with motion to adjourn.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","3/20/2025 Lebanon County Commissioner Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Lebanon County Commissioners at their March 20 meeting approved personnel transactions, grant modifications, a LERTA extension, an RACP pass-through request for the Expo Center, contract work for the county comprehensive plan, and several proclamations.","taxTitle","Lebanon County, Pennsylvania","taxId",4590,"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},6094960,"Lebanon County farm owners tell commissioners PennDOT road plan threatens preserved farmland",952,73000,1025000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2841380-4466083b871ac52edd54c153b7d03c09&start=73&end=1025","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2841380-4466083b871ac52edd54c153b7d03c09/thumbnail_73000.jpg","/articles/6094960/Lebanon-County/Pennsylvania/Lebanon-County-farm-owners-tell-commissioners-PennDOT-road-plan-threatens-preserved-farmland","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6094960-8c9ebad1a43e1e7e6075cfa4f8cc36ba/orig.mp4?Expires=1770614611&Signature=XiqQpo2xxWpokVeD46n0NOZgXsc0pIs~ahRAi10yt2dgOk1lu9iOiLRQ0D8Wys7Jw0hKQaUk280GWuli6Uv420AvBuLso61KlGqka85TdVJQZTE3hBzp0i6QiCsMPKAn0TQW1mERZY7tvqDRbtUCM5LtwEhy~q2bp571-BLHr8QXKat7HdRScNGBj1CrHYgBy-EYp51b7EQ9mQBBvhCiODuSfjibVkCSvjRLMAifZBkFnkWJ979m4RKhRnaAnFjq28m8L-skTthsv0lFYQ-mNIpP28pmYfNBWu4rhGcGr0ih9H6fvjdFGbpAH5Tp2a1SOInXyS-fKSFW5tPuh4a4yg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Owners of farmland near the intersection of Thompson Avenue and Hill Church Road told the Lebanon County Commissioners on March 20 that a PennDOT intersection project could permanently harm preserved farmland and make daily farm operations hazardous.

The most direct concerns came from Becky (last name not provided), who said she and family members own land at the northeast and southeast corners of the intersection in North Anvil Township and that the current plan would “raise the road so high and change the grade so much that simply entering our fields from the road is going to prove to be a great great feat.” Amy Stevenson, another property owner at 3901 Pilch Bridal Road, told commissioners, “We preserved our land for this very moment right here,” and said PennDOT’s inclusion of preserved parcels in the plan devalues local farmland preservation efforts. Longtime farmer Jim Hoffman, of Heilbron Farms, said his family preserved nearly 400 acres and described possible impacts including a 10.5-foot road raise and stormwater runoff conveyed through two pipes that he said “could cause another 3 acres of land to be impacted.”

Why it matters: the speakers said the proposal would reshape road alignment and grades in ways that could increase speed on an already fast road, move the roadway closer to houses and farm buildings, impede farm machinery access, and change drainage patterns. They said farmland preserved under the county program should not be used for such highway realignments without clearer public notice and exploration of less intrusive traffic-calming options first.

Speakers described limited notice and engagement. Becky said township supervisors told her PennDOT handled the design and that the supervisors had “no information.” Hoffman said he received only a letter about a traffic study and that a media article first revealed the full scope of work. The property owners also said they contacted Senator Gebhardt’s office, which “suggested that we went ahead and speak to our supervisors.”

Commissioner responses and next steps: Commissioners acknowledged sympathy for the owners’ concerns and said PennDOT projects often fall outside county control. One commissioner suggested drafting a letter of support for farmland preservation to present to PennDOT and state officials; that motion was proposed during public comment and the commissioner offering the motion said she would draft a letter to share with the township and PennDOT. No formal county vote to adopt a position was recorded in the transcript.

What was discussed (issues and options): Public commenters urged PennDOT and municipal officials to try lower-impact traffic-calming measures first (a four-way stop, flashing red lights, rumble strips) and to consider shifting improvements closer to the intersection rather than moving the road alignment over preserved parcels. They described potential water-runoff, access, and safety trade-offs if the roadway grade is raised roughly 10.5 feet, and noted that PennDOT’s mapping and outreach had not clearly identified impacts to preserved parcels. Commenters urged more transparency and earlier outreach to property owners.

Context and background: The speakers said the farmland had been enrolled in the county farmland preservation program for years (one speaker said their family preserved nearly 400 acres in 2006 and that the farm has been in the family since 1732). They said farmland taken by PennDOT through eminent domain or right-of-way acquisition would undercut the purpose of local preservation programs. The transcript records no PennDOT representative responding at the meeting.

Ending: Commissioners accepted the public comments for the record and discussed drafting a letter of support for preserved farmland; no formal policy change or vote on the county’s position was recorded in the meeting transcript. The property owners said they will seek additional engagement with the township, PennDOT, and state offices.","Several owners of preserved farms near Thompson Avenue and Hill Church Road urged Lebanon County commissioners to intervene after learning a PennDOT intersection project could require taking preserved acreage and raise road grade near farm buildings.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: Lebanon County commissioners approve grants, personnel changes, proclamations and plan contract

Lebanon County farm owners tell commissioners PennDOT road plan threatens preserved farmland