[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-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",[32,74],{"_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":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6268115,"mediaKeyId","3058622-7952f8ab8ceedbf35ca3f47d4987bcf1","parentId",3058622,"title","Resident pitches Altoona site for proposed prison; America 250 PA outlines county bicentennial events","audioSeconds",173,"startMs",392000,"endMs",565000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3058622-7952f8ab8ceedbf35ca3f47d4987bcf1&start=392&end=565","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3058622-7952f8ab8ceedbf35ca3f47d4987bcf1/thumbnail_392000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6268115/Blair-County/Pennsylvania/Resident-pitches-Altoona-site-for-proposed-prison-America-250-PA-outlines-county-bicentennial-events","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6268115-fbd4942fc5ef7c110b177cadd373ca5f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147707&Signature=lUqMIcfoJN4BhLUpUEraneecpxBkys5QJq5T7X00GH5A~Dr0b22Quo4w9wd-YRe86LHBa5m~0s94lu6vqdVSpnKHX5nnLZydzDKmRVJeXKv3YmxQu17sCWNegDcLD6wLeZOVvBNvfHtMIY0~mh5e0ozf0EmwIXYjS-5UKyOm8VLqZcm26pZEx9FCp9EfTR3z5XiW1g8V1zQT337bmxlWvHcaYWMolG3WLxVImkaD1rvga1smZHviMIgmR~VNJFriZZCmfX716jJkND1h4wDlhE433XDzQLldvmjx38b~RbLJLRMAKUM7~8X5dk01WgXNOi06Bpk~I-Q16zgIUlX69g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-19T04:47:06.323Z","article","Two members of the public spoke at the Blair County Commissioners meeting on Thursday, April 17, 2025.

Mike Senesi of Hollidaysburg used his public-comment time to urge the commission to consider a five-acre light-industrial site in Altoona as a location for a proposed new prison, saying the parcel already has water, sewer, gas and communications infrastructure and would reduce land-take compared with a greenfield site.

\"This is about 5 acres, and the infrastructure is there,\" Senesi said, adding that the site is largely vacant, adjacent to existing industrial parcels and associated with the Pector family. He also said the existing prison employs \"something like 200 jobs,\" which he argued would continue to provide local employment if the site were used for expansion.

Senesi said he had raised the site at an Altoona City Council public comment session and asked the county commissioners to \"approach the city\" if they shared his view. The board's discussion later in the meeting acknowledged constituent suggestions but noted technical constraints.

A commissioner who spoke after Senesi said commissioners maintain \"a very good relationship with the city of Altoona\" and that the county evaluates potential sites regularly. The commissioner cautioned that the Altoona parcel likely presents \"environmental mitigation\" and hazmat issues, that vertical expansion (building up) presents maintenance and operational challenges, and that the county is planning for long-term capacity over 10 to 30 years rather than immediate construction.

A. C. Stickel, representing the America 250 PA Blair County Commission, used the public-comment period to preview county events tied to the nation's 250th anniversary. Stickel described a sequence of commemorations beginning April 18 with a courthouse clock-tower lighting to mark Paul Revere's ride, a ceremonial Liberty Tree planting at Fort Roberdeau on April 26, a Flag Day weekend kickoff at DelGrosso's Park in June that will include unveiling a county Liberty Bell by local artist Leah McNall, and a Fort Roberdeau program reading the Declaration of Independence on Independence Day.

\"We are the group commissioned to plan Blair County's celebration of America's 200 and fiftieth birthday on 07/04/2026,\" Stickel said, asking the public and government partners to support scheduled events and noting available fundraising pins and buttons.

No formal action was taken on Senesi's prison-site suggestion; commissioners said staff and engineers evaluate sites and encouraged constituents to continue providing information. The public-comment section concluded and the board moved on to its consent agenda and action items.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Blair County Commissioners","oneSentenceSummary","During public comment at the April 17 Blair County Commissioners meeting a Hollidaysburg resident urged commissioners to consider a five-acre Altoona site for a proposed prison; a representative of America 250 PA Blair County Commission described upcoming bicentennial events.","taxTitle","Blair County, Pennsylvania","taxId",5058,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6268120,"Blair County commissioners approve contracts, grants and audit engagement; one abstention on courthouse HVAC change order",97,1069000,1166000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3058622-7952f8ab8ceedbf35ca3f47d4987bcf1&start=1069&end=1166","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3058622-7952f8ab8ceedbf35ca3f47d4987bcf1/thumbnail_1069000.jpg","/articles/6268120/Blair-County/Pennsylvania/Blair-County-commissioners-approve-contracts-grants-and-audit-engagement-one-abstention-on-courthouse-HVAC-change-order","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6268120-5581f633793a0b27d6c7cd91845e4444/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147707&Signature=eK8P3TiHg3FIZr--zBPTZ38k-h5XVNaqPOOuG2VrmsQBayVmDoO83DURVVHOJvaDQtlXxhr0Mg8b4VxLBz5KQ7bsrxoYBMckVr-1TVl864tuLRA0GmAninpbyZ1HCObKXb0OFgTmtr5EiRBN4Y~z-3FarrmfGzvWMzB7pzep6UXG2woNVeiOWvshgMK70hfqt7Qq34ZKEMWhcmhI9sfnLCVWemiylfzzT8OGEyP5U13FC~R5dBZGrtlMIm2B3PaocHpgmb8Vm0ixdYHcsHP2CReQJaenehd-tiMyBnBITY4ux6ZLKf-hok9HmmgW7IChtE6LH9yCMZYvGBnDTlIy~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Blair County Commissioners on Thursday, April 17, 2025, approved a consent agenda and a series of contracts, grants and an audit engagement during a meeting that lasted about 20 minutes.

The actions included authorization for a county official to sign a Tier 2 site-specific environmental review for an owner-occupied housing rehabilitation program, approval of a change order to replace courthouse heat pumps, acceptance of a juvenile probation grant, a professional services contract to assist regional 9-1-1 planning, and authorization to engage the Commonwealth's Department of Auditor General to examine several county transportation and fee funds for 2021'024.

The approvals were routine in form but cover a mix of operating, infrastructure and compliance matters affecting county services and finances.

The commissioners approved the consent agenda, which the clerk described as containing seven warrant lists for ratification and an affiliation agreement between the Blair County District Attorney's Office and New England Law for student internships, along with routine employment and resignation items. A motion to approve the consent agenda was made and seconded and carried.

The board authorized Commissioner David Kesseling to sign the Tier 2 site-specific environmental review record for the Blair County owner-occupied housing rehabilitation program for the address listed in meeting materials. The request was presented by social services staff and approved without discussion.

The board approved Change Order No. 1 to Resolution 127-20-25 with Burke and Company LLC for replacement heat pumps at the courthouse. The presenter said the change order covered an additional cost for five replacement heat pumps; the presenter listed the additional cost as \"$464\" and said the total project cost is \"$20,972\". A motion to approve passed, and one commissioner registered an abstention on the vote.

The commissioners approved a professional services contract between Blair County and Mission Critical Partners LLC for consulting services to assist the Southern Alleghenies 9-1-1 Cooperative with planning, procurement and implementation related to a Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) award. The fixed-fee contract including expenses is $83,210.60 and will be invoiced monthly; the board confirmed the work is covered by grant funds rather than the general fund.

Juvenile probation staff asked the board to accept the 2024'025 Juvenile Court Judges' Commission juvenile probation services grant; the county accepted the grant in the amount of $146,839. The juvenile probation representative said the funding will cover a percentage of probation officers' pay and will be apportioned across the office according to juvenile caseloads.

Finally, the board approved an engagement letter with the Pennsylvania Department of Auditor General to examine the county's liquid-fuel tax funds, Act 44 and Act 89 tax funds, and county fee and local use fund for the period Jan. 1, 2021, through Dec. 31, 2024.

Votes at a glance: the consent agenda, the Tier 2 environmental-review authorization, the Mission Critical Partners contract, the juvenile probation grant acceptance and the Auditor General engagement were approved. The Burke and Company change order was approved with one abstention noted in the record.

The meeting record shows staff said the Mission Critical Partners contract will be paid from the PEMA award rather than the county general fund. No member of the public offered comment on the contracts or grants during the board's consideration. The board adjourned and scheduled its next meeting for Thursday, April 24 at 10 a.m.","At their April 17 meeting the Blair County Commissioners approved a consent agenda, multiple contracts and grants, and an engagement letter with the Pennsylvania Auditor General; one commissioner recorded an abstention on a courthouse heat-pump change order.","actionData","errors"]

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Resident pitches Altoona site for proposed prison; America 250 PA outlines county bicentennial events

Blair County commissioners approve contracts, grants and audit engagement; one abstention on courthouse HVAC change order