[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6572977,"mediaKeyId","3127345-43c1b378428543c94c0d9efcfb3f7f42","parentId",3127345,"title","Jefferson County commissioners approve $1 million hospital grant application, payroll and invoices; proclaim living donor and mental health months","audioSeconds",634,"startMs",194000,"endMs",828000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3127345-43c1b378428543c94c0d9efcfb3f7f42&start=194&end=828","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3127345-43c1b378428543c94c0d9efcfb3f7f42/thumbnail_194000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6572977/Jefferson-County/Pennsylvania/Jefferson-County-commissioners-approve-1-million-hospital-grant-application-payroll-and-invoices-proclaim-living-donor-and-mental-health-months","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6572977-f17077e55f6c1d5bae0777f460b8a78f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174670&Signature=X84XIcSV0d4wODsX4HolQMhVdl3aKcNpwGF24iaQjdrSeOQQ2QgGyYNOvjFwwu32Wwq1eVab3f8yQvCDuRDwgbrkCTww~w2w2036DCzbUNB9v3lNv8N-GjF1nJz6x5z4FpFMx0n5aDx11lOerR83NeOJJCsqxkylgUBLfNUlBboJGmsbO6sfskbGS42xlRmswwtljESGrFT0AtHW1s-8NaJ-lDxSy7Y8aWigWo~movYD3VAJa4l9rRcHuVNichM6EXCgIw8vLFdqamNChmiiKCQcXJh4KXGNvDNySBdLYLwMBC-VQdEY1zOnFK~oXVdO2HRkHY7nl~eEcrlV4q~Lpw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Jefferson County, PA","date","2025-04-23T00:10:04.723Z","article","The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners voted to adopt Resolution 2025-04 authorizing submission of a grant application and related documents to the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) seeking $1,000,000 for a Punxsutawney Area Hospital parking project and associated generator installation, the board announced during its April meeting.

The resolution, identified in the meeting as Resolution 2025-04, directs county staff to submit an application, cooperation agreement and any necessary amendments to the RACP for a total request of $1,000,000. County commissioners and hospital representatives said the funds would be used for paving work in the hospital parking lot and installation of a backup generator.

In addition to the RACP application, the board approved the payment of invoices totaling $1,145,701.36 for the period April 4–April 17, 2021, and authorized payroll in the amount of $326,460.61 for the period March 23–April 5, 2025. The board also awarded a county mowing and trimming services contract for county properties (including the jail) to BWB Landscaping of Knoxville at $720 per month.

Commissioners also approved two proclamations: proclaiming April 2025 as Living Donor Month in Jefferson County and May 2025 as Mental Health and Stigma Awareness Month. Community speakers representing Penn Highlands Brookville, Punxsutawney Area Hospital and local nonprofits addressed the board during those items. Ben Hughes, who identified himself as a member of the executive team at Molestown Area Hospital and a recent living kidney donor, described his experience with the donor exchange program. Selena Spernati, advisory council representative for CORE at Penn Highlands Brookville, provided donation and tissue-donation statistics for the hospital. Aaron Beatty, executive director of the Western Pennsylvania Police Athletic Leagues, described a planned May 17 mental-health event at Du Bois City Park.

The board took roll-call votes or voice votes on the items; where recorded in the transcript motions carried. For example, the proclamations were presented and then approved by voice vote. The transcript records some roll-call confirmations (for example, “Mister North? Yes. Mister Daniels? Yes. Mister Gonzales? Yes.”) but a full named roll-call tally for every item was not captured verbatim in the public transcript.

Why it matters: the RACP application would bring state redevelopment support to a local hospital project and the generator and parking work would affect hospital operations and emergency readiness. The approved payments and payroll reflect routine county fiscal business; the mowing contract affects facility maintenance for county properties including the jail. The proclamations are symbolic county recognition intended to raise public awareness about organ donation and mental-health stigma.

Votes at a glance

- Minutes (meeting dated 04/08/2075 as read in the agenda): motion moved and seconded; \"motion carries\" (mover/second not specified in transcript).
- Vendor invoices: $1,145,701.36 (period April 4–April 17, 2021): motion carried (roll-call fragment recorded in transcript; full named tally not fully transcribed).
- Payroll: $326,460.61 (period March 23–April 5, 2025): motion carried (mover/second not specified).
- Resolution 2025-04 (RACP application for Punxsutawney Area Hospital parking project; $1,000,000): motion moved and seconded; discussion noted paving and generator costs; motion carried.
- Proclamation: April 2025 as Living Donor Month: motion carried after public remarks from hospital and donor representatives.
- Proclamation: May 2025 as Mental Health and Stigma Awareness Month: motion carried after public remarks and a personal account from a commissioner about stigma and military service.
- Contract award: County mowing/trimming services to BWB Landscaping of Knoxville at $720 per month (covers county properties including the jail): motion carried.

No votes to reject or table formal ordinances were recorded during the portion of the transcript reviewed. Specific mover/second names were not consistently recorded for each motion in the transcript; where a motion or second was stated without an identified speaker, the record lists \"not specified.\"","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Jefferson County PA Commissioners’ Meeting 4-22-2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners voted to adopt Resolution 2025-04 authorizing a $1,000,000 application to the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program for a Punxsutawney Area Hospital parking project and approved routine county payments and proclamations during its April meeting.","taxTitle","Jefferson County, Pennsylvania","taxId",56311,"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},6572966,"Jefferson County auditors report treasurer declined meetings; IRS penalty of $1,099.99 sustained",219,1842000,2061000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3127345-43c1b378428543c94c0d9efcfb3f7f42&start=1842&end=2061","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3127345-43c1b378428543c94c0d9efcfb3f7f42/thumbnail_1842000.jpg","/articles/6572966/Jefferson-County/Pennsylvania/Jefferson-County-auditors-report-treasurer-declined-meetings-IRS-penalty-of-109999-sustained","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6572966-2ee2062fa98f7a6f32433652be48da3f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174670&Signature=X1a0DvOKXeL6gxi7HK7KOn6cHYNJZcPjQBPrhXrk2oh02z2p~-K8Pf1M8IFRgC8DYTePgrb8ACYw4LePrLyGQl8WZdlILF7G2VFc31e~MKkQf98hRYoSQ2HPrMpH~FnzB5qo9P9I2~37zLW6G5zMY3K77C2JJzzhMqSj8~ugXtOgB3Ltj2bXGIeAXjw9yCgejn0owRgpwgc4~ERBG7tm9l5ZNBoPtU-d9GaW~CDr-0VBVCtmG9pUO~rJhh4cbgl5dQTA5PdjKz76-oDFr9xR~FQzypznmPMCEB10VNKNa2vmLujID4SU5NbVCWMakUf7~PmVZq~w1SU-qAhUrSvjhw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Elected county auditors reported to the Board of Commissioners that they have been conducting a review of county financial systems and controls but have been unable to obtain cooperation from the treasurer's office.

Edward McGinnis, speaking for the elected auditors, said auditors met with many department managers over the past two months and found useful information, but the treasurer \"refuses to meet\" and has declined to allow the deputy treasurer to meet with auditors. McGinnis said the auditors want to review the treasurer's operations to assist with efficient, timely and transparent handling of taxpayer funds.

On a related financial topic, county staff reported the county received official notice from the Internal Revenue Service that it assessed a failure-to-pay penalty and interest for a past remittance issue, and the total amount due is $1,099.99. When asked whether relief from the penalty was possible, county staff said the IRS indicated the penalty would be sustained and a follow-up letter would be sent.

The auditors said they will continue their review of other county departments while continuing efforts to secure a meeting with the treasurer; the treasurer reportedly told auditors that meeting would not be convenient until mid- to late May and that the deputy treasurer would not participate.

Why it matters: auditors' access to the treasurer's office is central to completing a countywide financial review and to public accountability; the IRS assessment and the outstanding remittance question raised earlier in the meeting are fiscal issues with tangible, though limited, financial consequences for the county.","Elected auditors told commissioners they reviewed county financial systems but the treasurer declined to meet; auditors also reported the county received an IRS notice assessing a failure-to-pay penalty and interest totaling $1,099.99 related to an earlier remittance issue.",{"_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},6572972,"Jefferson County links local dispatch, state police radios to improve response for critical incidents",977,1344000,2321000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3127345-43c1b378428543c94c0d9efcfb3f7f42&start=1344&end=2321","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3127345-43c1b378428543c94c0d9efcfb3f7f42/thumbnail_1344000.jpg","/articles/6572972/Jefferson-County/Pennsylvania/Jefferson-County-links-local-dispatch-state-police-radios-to-improve-response-for-critical-incidents","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6572972-d64c15d11925eb278fe291d92577ceb2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174670&Signature=jwW69z4xD9qL5Rc-aQjK6B9aNYVo3KDu-ykvPSTMgdZfGSpanZVxOpYE2Okrb2MMH5IMH-4AFwm42597uZH2aHKUFqtz4CjNUMbtIJs9RaGQo3V2KkIQCnv-zQMeHKK4ulFZp7LYZP9OHtwiXKOIH6dQ84zUliyI3U6W1~uR0DV~KwhAmLfBg~uXnFhSpdNWuMzci-xS4b4H8Fqvyp-aBxc4xmuRLNuzbjNlokvOYSYuiUzn0lZ9QiVr1NB~BzsTqcsBugT58tQchr4e0Toubp0~hyra9lJcDmKAiTPHvFClWwRK1LXdr0RUVxtwiEIJmosGlJGNWb31IURd4IHREw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jefferson County’s director of emergency services told commissioners the county has established a patched radio channel that links local law-enforcement agencies and the Pennsylvania State Police for critical incidents, improving situational awareness and mobile-to-mobile communications, particularly during pursuits and large-scale incidents.

The director said the county built interoperable radio capabilities to allow dispatchers and officers from municipal, county and state levels to communicate directly on a single channel during high‑risk events. The system has been patched and used unofficially on a few occasions, and department staff and state police conducted training sessions. The director said the county will meet with law-enforcement partners after the meeting to review operational details.

Officials said much of the project was supported by grant funding from the Homeland Security Grant Program and that the build-out leveraged resources across the Northwest Central Region, including Clarion, Clearfield, Cameron and Elk counties. County staff acknowledged that commissioners advanced some upfront funds that will be reimbursed by the grant.

Speakers praised specific staff and contractors who worked on the project: Ed Matts (who secured grant funding and built infrastructure links), Alan Hawker of Center Communications (installer), and county dispatch specialist Chris Clark (who configured the radio screens in the 911 center). The director also thanked the Bureau of Communication Information Services at the Pennsylvania State Police and Troop C leadership, including Colonel Parrish, for their support in linking the systems.

Local officers described technical difficulties under previous radio systems—car radios and portable radios requiring channel switches during pursuits—and told the board the patching system reduces the chance of missed communications and blue-on-blue incidents by enabling direct radio communication between agencies.

Why it matters: the patch provides immediate operational communication during pursuits, searches and other time-sensitive incidents, improving officer safety and coordination across county lines.","County emergency-services staff said they have patched Pennsylvania State Police and local radio channels to allow direct voice communications on a single channel for high‑priority incidents; the work was funded by the Homeland Security grant program and has been rolled out across the Northwest Central Region.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Jefferson County commissioners approve $1 million hospital grant application, payroll and invoices; proclaim living donor and mental health months

Jefferson County auditors report treasurer declined meetings; IRS penalty of $1,099.99 sustained

Jefferson County links local dispatch, state police radios to improve response for critical incidents