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Luzerne County Council voting session: key approvals include ARPA modifications, fund-balance policy and energy contract; Hart InterCivic contract advanced
Summary
At its voting session the council approved multiple resolutions and contracts, including two American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) modifications, a fund-balance policy, an electricity supply contract, and several county agreements. Votes were recorded by roll call on several items; where roll-call counts were recorded they are noted.
Luzerne County Council approved a slate of resolutions and contracts during its voting session, including ARPA fund modifications, a new fund-balance policy and several operational contracts.
Key outcomes
- ARPA modifications: The council unanimously approved two ARPA modifications — one to redirect ARPA funding for a children, youth and families truck project, and another modifying an ARPA-awarded project for the Luzerne County Flood Protection Authority. Both measures passed by unanimous roll-call votes.
- Electricity supply contract: Council adopted a resolution approving an electricity supply contract at a fixed rate for two years. Council members noted the contract locks in a rate (discussed at ~12.4¢/kWh vs. a lower municipal rate) and removes exposure to seasonal price swings; the resolution passed unanimously by roll call.
- Highway and public-works items: The council approved PennDOT’s request to close a portion of Honeyhole Road for bridge replacement and approved the extension of a lease with King’s College for River Street parking in Wilkes-Barre. These measures passed by roll call with unanimous support.
- Insurance risk management services: The council approved a contract with Zygmund (Zigmund) Company for insurance risk management services; the vote was unanimous.
- Fund-balance policy: Council adopted a new fund-balance policy designed to maintain minimum reserve levels recommended by the county’s financial advisors and Standard & Poor’s. Council members discussed timing and the policy’s role in improving creditworthiness; the resolution passed by roll call (unanimous).
- Hart InterCivic voting equipment contract: The council authorized the county manager to execute a contract with Hart InterCivic Inc. for leased voting-machine equipment, software maintenance and support. The manager’s office told council that competitive vendor pricing was comparable; the record shows discussion and support for paper ballots with tabulation technology. (Vote: recorded in agenda as approved; roll-call details not specified in transcript excerpt.)
Other procedural items
- The council introduced an ordinance to revise the GIS and mapping department fee schedule (introduction; no final vote recorded in the excerpt).
- The council approved a modification to ARPA funds intended for Wilkes-Barre airport work to cover increased costs; staff explained the additional amount would complete contracts that had higher-than-anticipated bids or changed scope.
How the votes were taken
Several items were adopted by roll call. When roll calls were recorded in the record, the transcript lists individual council responses; for items where no roll-call transcript excerpt appears, the record identifies the motion and a second and indicates the item passed.
What’s next
For most adopted measures, county staff are tasked with implementation steps identified in each resolution and will report to council through routine administrative processes. The fund-balance policy will be applied to future budgets and a county manager memo will outline the procedures to meet the policy’s targets. The Hart InterCivic contract will govern voting-equipment leases and maintenance for upcoming elections; staff said they expect operational savings and improved adjudication workflows with the chosen system.
Votes at a glance (selected items from the session)
- ARPA modification — Children, Youth & Families truck project: approved, roll call unanimous. - ARPA modification — Flood Protection Authority project: approved, roll call unanimous. - Electricity supply contract (fixed-rate): approved, roll call unanimous. - Honeyhole Road closure (PennDOT bridge replacement): approved, roll call unanimous. - Insurance risk management contract (Zigmund Company): approved, roll call unanimous. - King’s College parking lease extension (River Street): approved, roll call unanimous. - Fund-balance policy adoption: approved, roll call unanimous. - Responsible Contractor Ordinance (RCO): adopted after amendments (see separate article); council roll-call recorded final adoption (tally recorded in meeting as 7 yes, 4 no). - Hart InterCivic voting equipment/lease/maintenance: authorized (vote recorded as approved; roll-call detail not specified in transcript excerpt).
The council also handled routine approvals of minutes and other procedural items. Where roll-call tallies were provided in the transcript, they are noted above; several items passed unanimously.
