Elk County commissioners approve jail contracts, 9-1-1 grant and Act 13-funded courtroom recording upgrade

Elk County commissioners approved multiple contracts, grant agreements and appointments at their regular meeting on Feb. 6, 2025, including renewed inmate housing agreements with neighboring counties, acceptance of a statewide 9-1-1 interconnectivity grant and use of Act 13 funds to upgrade courtroom recording equipment.

The actions, taken by motions that carried following voice votes, came amid routine agenda items and several presentations, including a ceremonial citation recognizing Ridgeway resident Phil Rogalski for 65 years of volunteer firefighting service.

Why it matters: The 9-1-1 grant and jail housing agreements affect county operations and budgets; the Act 13 allocation will pay for upgrades that the county’s court administrator said are needed as court stenographers retire and courts move toward digital recording.

The board voted to renew a contract with Cameron County to house inmates at $60 per day for the period Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2027, and ratified an extension of an agreement with Centre County to house Elk County inmates on an as-needed basis at $75 per day through Dec. 31, 2025. No individual roll-call tallies were read during the meeting; each request was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote.

Kathy McClelland, who administers Elk County’s FAIR home-repair program, spoke in support of a new contract with Ron Fannin to provide on-site evaluation services for housing rehab projects. McClelland said, “Ron will go with me to…