Blair County commissioners approve routine payroll, contracts and allocate CDBG funds to housing rehab

The Blair County Board of Commissioners on Thursday approved routine payroll and a slate of contracts and resolutions, and voted to allocate the county's federal fiscal year 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocation to its housing rehabilitation program.

The commissioners approved ratification of warrants and the payroll for the Sept. 5 paycheck in the amount of $957,834.34, several budget transfers including a $30,000 transfer to cover autopsy services, and multiple purchase agreements and renewals for county programs and services.

County staff recommended allocating the county's CDBG entitlement for 2025 to the county's housing rehabilitation program after the public-notice and public-hearing process produced no proposed projects from the 17 non-entitlement municipalities. The county's total 2025 CDBG allocation for the non-entitlement municipalities was stated as $247,152; staff said 18% ($44,004.85) would be set aside for administration, leaving roughly $202,667 available for projects and recommending that amount be applied to housing rehabilitation.

Staff described the housing-rehab program as means-tested and in strong demand: county staff said 55 households are currently on the wait list, the per-unit maximum is $75,000 (though staff said they sometimes blend other funding sources), and current wait times are about five to six years with some applicants from 2019 still pending. Staff also said the county held a public hearing on July 15 at the Hollidaysburg Public Library and received no attendees or public suggestions; Williamsburg inquired about a local match and staff replied that no match is required for CDBG funds.

Other approvals at the meeting included: - Renewal of a fiscal year 2025-26 purchase-of-service and HIPAA business associate agreement with Perseus House Incorporated to provide services for Blair County Children, Youth and Families (motion approved). - Approval of a provisional ballot affidavit redesign grant agreement with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of State to reimburse $500 for updated provisional ballot envelopes for the period July 1'Nov. 4, 2025 (motion approved). - Purchase agreements under the bidding threshold with Proactive Sports for safety apparel and printing, and with Imperial Hoist for hoist and lift inspection services (motions approved). - A resolution authorizing temporary and permanent easements for County Bridge 33 superstructure replacement on Old Mill Run Road in Logan Township (motion approved). - Approval of a security services agreement for Fort Roberdeau's Halloween Adventure event with Keystone Investigation and Security Specialists LLC for four security guards in the total amount of $616 (motion approved). - A letter of agreement enabling the Department of Social Services to refer individuals to the Alternative Community Resource Program and authorizing Tricia Johnson, director of the Blair County Department of Social Services, to sign the agreement (motion approved). - Renewal contracts funded by the Human Services Block Grant: a federal fiscal year 2025-26 contract with CONTACT Altoona in a maximum amount of $125,000 and a renewal contract with Blair Family Solutions LLC in a maximum amount of $80,000 (motions approved). - Approval of a reimbursement agreement (R25090008) between Blair County and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for an alternatives analysis on multiple county bridges and authorization for the chief clerk to sign the agreement (motion approved).

Votes were taken by voice for each motion; individual roll-call tallies were not recorded in the meeting minutes presented at the meeting. Several motions were moved and seconded on the record and passed by voice vote.

Why it matters: the CDBG allocation directs federal housing and community development funds to an existing county program with a substantial wait list, while the other approvals maintain daily county operations and public events. The bridge alternatives-analysis reimbursement agreement begins a planning step for multiple county bridges that may later require construction funding or easements.

Votes at a glance: - Ratification of warrants and payroll (paycheck dated 09/05/2025): approved; amount stated $957,834.34. - Budget transfer for autopsy services: approved; $30,000. - Perseus House Incorporated: fiscal year 2025-26 renewal purchase-of-service agreement and HIPAA BAA: approved; amount not specified in the transcript. - Provisional ballot affidavit redesign grant agreement (PA Department of State): approved; reimbursement amount $500. - Purchase agreements under bidding threshold: Proactive Sports (safety apparel/printing) and Imperial Hoist (hoist/lift inspections): both approved; purchase-order amounts not specified in the transcript. - Resolution authorizing temporary and permanent easements for County Bridge 33 (Old Mill Run Road): approved. - Keystone Investigation and Security Specialists LLC security services (Fort Roberdeau Halloween event): approved; total amount $616. - Letter of agreement for Social Services referrals to Alternative Community Resource Program; authorization for Tricia Johnson to sign: approved. - CONTACT Altoona contract (FFY 2025-26; funded by Human Services Block Grant): approved; maximum amount $125,000. - Blair Family Solutions LLC renewal contract (FFY 2025-26; funded by Human Services Block Grant): approved; maximum amount $80,000. - Reimbursement agreement R25090008 with Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (alternatives analysis for bridges 1, 2 and 3): approved; amount not specified in the transcript.

Meeting context and next steps: commissioners set a public-comment period on the CDBG application through Sept. 30 and staff said jurisdictions will adopt final applications in early October with a county adoption of the full application anticipated on Oct. 16. The board adjourned with its next scheduled meeting set for Thursday, Sept. 18 at 10:00 a.m.