Votes at a glance: Centre County commissioners adopt proclamation, approve grants and add several contracts to consent agenda

Centre County commissioners on Jan. 29 took a series of routine and substantive votes: they adopted a proclamation recognizing Jan. 29, 2025, as Lunar New Year in Centre County; authorized submission of a competitive CDBG application for the Eagle Creek sewer project; approved an updated federal CDBG residential anti‑displacement and relocation assistance plan; and moved several contract approvals and renewals to next week’s consent agenda or approved them for inclusion, including public safety facility repairs and election equipment maintenance.

Key outcomes and motions (motions and vote outcomes as recorded in the meeting):

• Proclamation — Lunar New Year: Commissioners adopted Proclamation No. 4, proclaiming Jan. 29, 2025, as Lunar New Year in Centre County. Community members Nalini Krishnan Kuti and Vicky (community organizers) spoke about local celebrations and community contributions. Outcome: adopted (motion carried).

• Resolution 2 of 2025 — Eagle Creek CDBG application: The board authorized staff to submit a competitive DCED CDBG application for the Eagle Creek sewer conveyance project (see separate article for details). Outcome: adopted (motion carried).

• Updated CDBG Residential Anti‑Displacement and Relocation Assistance Plan: County staff presented the federally required update under Section 104(d) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. Outcome: approved (motion carried).

• Public Safety Training Center — burn building repair contract (Howe Masonry): The board agreed to add a contract with Howe Masonry in the amount of $10,695 for masonry and high‑temperature panel repairs at the county Public Safety Training Center’s burn building to next week’s consent agenda. Outcome: added to consent agenda (motion carried).

• Election equipment maintenance and firmware renewal (Election Systems & Software LLC): The commissioners approved adding a renewal contract with Election Systems & Software to provide firmware licenses, extended warranties and biannual maintenance for county voting equipment. Contract amount: $127,815.34 for March 1, 2025–Feb. 28, 2026. Outcome: added to consent agenda/approved (motion carried).

• Children & Youth Services contracts: The board moved three CYS items to next week’s consent agenda, including a new foster‑care contract with Bethesda Lutheran Services ($30,000 total; state share $24,000, county share $6,000), an addendum with LanguageLine for interpreting and translation services ($2,500 total; state share $2,000, county $500), and a renewal with Delaware County Emergency Youth Academy ($85,000 total; county share $17,000). Outcome: added to consent agenda (motion carried).

• Mental health / intellectual disability / early intervention / drug and alcohol (MHIDEI) contracts: Commissioners moved three MHIDEI items to next week’s consent agenda, including a renewal with Oasis Life Care for mental health services ($200,684 total), a contract for a single individual with Eagle Valley Personal Care Home (county share $899), and an agreement with Western PA School for the Deaf for early intervention hearing services (county share $461). Outcome: added to consent agenda (motion carried).

• Letter of support — Haines/Aaronsburg Municipal Authority: The board approved a letter of support for a Susquehanna River Basin Commission Consumptive Use Mitigation Program grant application to replace analog meters with advanced meters and fix inoperable valves. Grant request: $100,000 toward a $120,000 project. Outcome: approved (motion carried).

• Check run dated Jan. 24: The board approved the check run and highlighted a payment to Centre LifeLink; commissioners encouraged residents in the service area to maintain memberships. Outcome: approved (motion carried).

• Administrator delegated authorizations (quarterly report): County Administrator John reported 43 authorizations performed under board‑delegated authority for Q4 2024 totaling $345,364.90 across software renewals, human services agreements, legal consultation, training, insurance and no‑cost agreements. The board accepted the report.

• Voter registration report: Elections staff reported 101,843 registered voters: 41,362 Democratic, 42,100 Republican, 15,524 no party affiliation, smaller counts for minor parties; 44 net new registrants since last week. Precinct of the week: Walker Township West (precinct 84) with 2,272 registered voters and turnout of just over 87% in November. The board received the report.

Several of the items above were moved to next week’s consent agenda for formal approval. Transcripts record commissioners saying “aye” and “motion carries” for the listed items; the meeting did not include a named roll‑call vote for each item in the record provided.