Lawrence County commissioners approve municipal grant application, regional radio MOU and a slate of property and budget items

The Lawrence County Commissioners on Feb. 18 approved a series of resolutions including a county match to apply for a municipal assistance grant for an updated comprehensive plan, participation documents for a regional public-safety radio system, multiple repository-property bid approvals, and budget transfers for jail maintenance and election equipment.

The board voted to adopt Resolution 29, allowing the county to apply to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s Municipal Assistance Program for funds to prepare an updated county comprehensive plan. The resolution commits the county to a contribution not to exceed $75,000 contingent on receiving the DCED award. Rebecca Schaeffer, county planning staff, said the county’s last plan dated to October 2016 and the grant application deadline is March 15.

The board approved Resolution 30 to sign updated governance documents (a memorandum of understanding and a memorandum of agreement) for the intercounty regional radio system known as ICorps. Chad Strobel, public safety director, said the documents add several counties to the system and update governance and membership procedures; he told commissioners there were no price increases tied to the revised MOU.

The commissioners approved 13 repository-property resolutions (Resolutions 31–43) covering parcels in the city of New Castle with bids from Ben Likens and Adrianna Nardin (bid amounts ranged from $500 to $550). County staff told the board the New Castle city council returned approvals on Jan. 17; the Newcastle area school district did not return its requests within the allotted 60 days and was therefore deemed not to have objected in the county’s process.

Budget actions approved included Resolution 44, a $45,000 appropriation to the Mental Health and Developmental Services EI base expense account (state early-intervention funds), and Resolution 45, a transfer of $248,740 from capital contingency to two line items: $159,740 to jail maintenance and repairs (the county said two of three hot-water tanks are out of service) and $89,000 to the voters office for voting-machine and warranty payments. The board also approved smaller transfers: $2,000 to juvenile probation materials and supplies for a door-security installation and $1,000 to the courts for association dues.

Other procedural items approved included acceptance of two warrant registers dated Feb. 11 and Feb. 13 and approval of minutes from the Feb. 11 meeting. A repository property resolution for Pulaski Township remained on the table pending expected action by the Wilmington-area school board and Pulaski Township supervisors.

Votes at a glance - Resolution 29 (Comprehensive plan grant application): Motion made and seconded; roll call recorded affirmative votes; motion carries. County commitment: not to exceed $75,000 if grant awarded; DCED Municipal Assistance Program deadline March 15. - Resolution 30 (ICorps MOU/MOA): Motion made and seconded; roll call recorded affirmative votes; motion carries. Action: update and join intercounty radio governance documents; no price increase reported. - Resolutions 31–43 (13 repository property bids, New Castle parcels): Single motion to accept all; motion carries. Bidders and bid amounts listed in county packet: Ben Likens ($500) and Adrianna Nardin ($525–$550) on various streets; city council approvals dated Jan. 17 recorded by staff. - Resolution 44 (MHDS/EI $45,000 allocation): Motion made and seconded; roll call affirmative; motion carries. Funds earmarked to EI base expense account. - Resolution 45 (Capital contingency transfer $248,740): Motion made and seconded; roll call affirmative; motion carries. $159,740 to jail maintenance/repairs (hot-water system) and $89,000 to voters office for voting-machine and warranty payments. - Acceptance of two warrant registers (Feb. 11, Feb. 13): Motion carries. - Approval of Feb. 11 meeting minutes: Motion carries.

Several motions were handled as single composite votes (for efficiency) after staff confirmed procedural requirements, solicitor review where necessary, and receipt of city approvals. The Pulaski Township repository item remains tabled pending the Wilmington-area school board’s expected action at its meeting later the same day.

The board’s actions at this meeting were procedural and budgetary; no new county ordinances or policy changes were adopted.