Washington County commissioners approve contracts, purchases and fee ordinance; multiple donations and service agreements authorized

The Washington County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 6, 2025, voted to approve a broad set of county contracts, purchases, donations and an ordinance that permits the tax claim bureau to charge a $250 processing fee for properties purchased at tax sale or by mortgage foreclosure. The board’s roll calls on recorded items showed all three commissioners voting yes on each measure.

The approved actions included procurement and agreement approvals across departments: public safety, planning, elections, redevelopment, parks and recreation, buildings and grounds, human services and behavioral health. Funding sources for the purchases varied by line item and included gas and oil lease funds, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) monies, state BOA funds, Department of Energy EECBG grant funds, Act 13 funds and other program grants; several contracts were noted as requiring no additional county funds.

Why it matters: The approvals commit county funds and grant-authorized revenue to infrastructure, public-safety connectivity, shelter services and elections operations for 2025. The ordinance adopting the processing fee implements authority granted by Act 48 of 2024 and will affect parties that purchase property at county tax sales.

The board approved two division-order amendments with Range Resources for small decimal interests in the Augustine D 11H and Augustine F 12H units. Commissioners authorized an addendum to a FirstEnergy agreement for the Southside Taxiway project in the amount of $6,287.61, citing additional electrical work and a junction box.

Donations authorized included three desks to a township police department (application and criteria verified) and a backhoe to the Washington County Fairgrounds. Purchasing…