Susquehanna County approves bridge contracts, 9‑1‑1 drone purchase and other routine business

Susquehanna County Board of Commissioners on March 12, 2025 approved a set of routine motions that included professional services contracts for bridge work, a purchase of a drone system for county 9‑1‑1 operations using Act 13 funds, updated bylaws and expanded membership for the Agricultural Land Preservation Board, and multiple personnel and procurement items.

The approvals were largely procedural and carried by voice vote with no extended debate recorded.

The most notable items approved:

• Bridge contracts: The board approved a professional services contract with GPI (Stanton, PA) effective March 12, 2025, for painting bridges numbered 518, 2125 and 27 at a total cost of $75,006.55. Separately the board approved GPI (Scranton, PA) contracts related to preliminary engineering for replacement of Bridge Number 10 (total cost $171,290) and Bridge Number 11 (total cost $206,600). Motions for these contracts were made and seconded during the meeting and carried by the commissioners.

• 9‑1‑1 drone purchase: The board approved purchase of one Ascent Aerosystems spur drone aircraft system with GPS, batteries and navigation at a cost of $50,966, to be paid with Act 13 funding for the county 9‑1‑1 operation. The purchase was presented and approved without discussion.

• Agricultural Land Preservation Board: Commissioners voted to increase the number of allowed members on the Susquehanna County Agricultural Land Preservation Board from seven to nine, and to adopt updated bylaws for that board. Both motions were approved by voice vote.

• Children & Youth service agreement: The board approved a purchase-of-service agreement between Susquehanna County Children & Youth and Hoffman Homes (Littlestown, PA) for child welfare services; the motion carried by voice vote.

• Procurement and advertising: The board authorized advertising a public bid for county excavating services covering bridge repair/restoration/maintenance, dam repair/restoration/maintenance and other county projects for the period March 26, 2025 through Dec. 31, 2026. The board also authorized advertising a municipal bid for American Racing 16‑inch aluminum wheels.

• Personnel and administrative actions: The commissioners approved routine personnel items listed on the agenda, including hiring as listed in item 14, acceptance of employee resignations under item 15, and specific personnel determinations including a change involving Carrie Short (personnel details recorded in the meeting packet). The board briefly opened the salary board, considered salary items and then closed the salary board.

• Proclamation: The board adopted Proclamation 2025‑07, proclaiming March 16–22, 2025, as Pennsylvania 4‑H Week in Susquehanna County; the proclamation was read at the meeting and signed by the three commissioners.

• County landscaping contract: The County Green Triangle Landscape Project (front gardens) was awarded to Brancotts Nursery and Landscaping LLC (New Milford) at a cost of $5,265; the award was noted during the meeting.

All motions recorded in the meeting carried by voice vote. Where the transcript documents a specific roll-type result it is recorded in the actions array below; otherwise the minutes record each item as carried on the commissioners' voice vote. The meeting adjourned at 9:15 a.m.

Votes at a glance (key items, motioners/seconders as recorded in the meeting): - Approve minutes of Feb. 12, 2025 (amended to item 24): motion by Commissioner Darryl; second by Commissioner Hall; recorded as carried with 1 abstention. - Approve item 3: motion by Commissioner McNamara; second by Commissioner Durham; carried. - Open/close salary board and approve salary items: motions recorded and carried (salary board opened at 09:05; closed and returned to commissioners' meeting at 09:06). - Pay bills: motion by Commissioner McBurner; second by Commissioner Darryl; carried. - Approve travel requests (item 6): motion by Commissioner Darryl; second by Commissioner McNamara; carried. - Agricultural Land Preservation Board membership increase (7) and adoption of updated bylaws (8): motions by Commissioner Darryl and Commissioner McNamara as recorded; carried. - Children & Youth agreement with Hoffman Homes (item 9): motion by Commissioner Darryl; second by as recorded; carried. - GPI painting contract (item 10): motion by Commissioner McNamara; second by Commissioner Darrow; total $75,006.55; carried. - GPI contract for Bridge 10 replacement engineering (item 11): motion recorded; total $171,290; carried. - GPI contract for Bridge 11 replacement preliminary engineering (item 12): total $206,600; carried. - Drone purchase for 9‑1‑1 (item 13): motion recorded; $50,966; funded with Act 13; carried. - Hiring approvals (item 14), resignations accepted (item 15) and other personnel matters (item 16): motions recorded; carried. - Advertise bid for county excavating services (item 19): motion recorded; authorization covers 03/26/2025–12/31/2026; carried. - Proclamation 2025‑07 (item 18) designating Pennsylvania 4‑H Week: motion by Commissioner McNamara; second by Commissioner Dow; proclamation adopted and signed. - Adjourn (item 20): motion by Commissioner McTorre; second by Commissioner Darryl; meeting closed at 09:15 a.m.

Ending: The approvals were routine and carried by voice vote; no extended debate or opposition is recorded in the meeting transcript. Several motions reference contractual dollar amounts and effective dates recorded in the meeting packet and announced at the meeting; those figures are noted above as provided orally during the meeting.