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Luzerne County Council approves safety plan, leases and ARPA change; OKs two-year black fly suppression funding
Summary
At its Feb. 11 voting session the Luzerne County Council unanimously approved a Safe Streets contract, a tenant lease, an ARPA modification for Common Ground Ministries and a two-year Act 13 payment for black fly suppression; it also introduced an ordinance to document DA grant funding.
Luzerne County Council on Feb. 11 voted unanimously to approve several routine contracts and grant actions and introduced an ordinance to record grant funding for the district attorney’s gun-violence initiative.
The council approved a contract with Kittleson and Associates for a Safe Streets and Roads for All comprehensive safety action plan; authorized a lease for office space at the Broad Street Exchange Business Center with Yajairo de Olayo; approved a modification to an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds project for Common Ground Ministries; and authorized use of Act 13 Marcellus legacy funds for Luzerne County's participation in the county's black fly suppression program for both 2024 and 2025. Council also introduced an ordinance to amend the 2025 general fund budget to document additional grant funding awarded to the district attorney’s office for anti–gun-violence work.
Why it matters: the actions secure consultant support for a county traffic-safety plan, keep county-leased office space in use, allow a nonprofit to adjust an ARPA-funded project, and fund a recurring public-health nuisance control program that the county has participated in for years. Introducing the budget ordinance ensures county accounting will reflect DA grant awards.
Key items and outcomes
- Safe Streets and Roads for All action plan: resolution approving a contract with Kittleson and Associates — passed, unanimous. - Ordinance (introduced) to amend the 2025 general fund budget to add DA grant funds for gun-violence work — introduced (no final vote recorded at this session). - Lease authorization: resolution authorizing a lease agreement with Yajairo de Olayo for office space at 100 W. Broad St., Hazleton — passed, unanimous. - ARPA modification: resolution approving a modification to an American Rescue Plan Act–funded project for Common Ground Ministries — passed, unanimous; council noted a paperwork date error that was corrected in the meeting materials. - Act 13 funds for black fly suppression: resolution authorizing use of Act 13 Marcellus legacy funds for Luzerne County’s participation in the 2024 and 2025 Black Fly Suppression Program — passed, unanimous. Council discussed that the county’s share is roughly $76,700 for 2024 and $79,000 for 2025 (about $155,700 total) and that the state Department of Environmental Protection covers the majority of the spraying cost.
Council procedure and votes
Most motions were made and seconded with roll-call votes recorded as unanimous. The council recorded 10 members present for the voting session; one member was absent. Where motions were seconded without a named mover or seconder on the public record, the council recorded the roll call and outcome as unanimous.
What wasn’t decided
Council introduced but did not adopt the ordinance to amend the 2025 general fund budget for the DA — introduction was for placement on a future agenda so the budget amendment can be formally documented in the county’s books.
Ending
Council adjourned the voting session after public comment and scheduled a work session to follow. Several work-session items — including discussion of a proposed Responsible Contractor Ordinance and a proposed county energy-broker contract — were held for separate public discussion.
