Bedford County approves redevelopment partnership, authorizes MAP application and tables broadband tower bids for review

Bedford County commissioners on an unscheduled special meeting approved a partnership agreement with East Providence Township and the Bedford County Development Association to develop a strategic redevelopment and economic growth plan; adopted Resolution O8.21025 authorizing an application to the Pennsylvania Municipal Assistance Program (MAP); and opened a single electronic bid for the county's ARC broadband tower project, then voted to table bid award decisions for further review.

County staff said the redevelopment planning is intended to help East Providence Township prepare for a planned rerouting of the Turnpike and associated changes to high-speed access. "This is to work with East Providence Township and Bedford County Development Association. Myself and the commissioners have been in great discussions with both BCDA and the township to apply for funding to help East Providence plan for the redevelopment of the Turnpike with the high speed access," Stephanie, a county staff member, said. She added the goal is to "make sure that they're prepared and what East Providence looks like going into the future."

The board adopted Resolution O8.21025, which authorizes staff to apply to the Pennsylvania Municipal Assistance Program (MAP) for funding. The record notes the action was made "based upon the recommendation of Bedford County commissioners." No additional funding sources or award amounts were specified in the meeting record for the MAP application.

On the broadband project, staff opened one electronic response for the ARC Tower bid from Above Wireless LLC (based in Ohio). A county staff member who reviewed the submission said the bid document lists three line items (Site A, Site B and Site C) "totaling $981,500.06" in the paperwork and said the bid package will be reviewed for completeness, bond documentation and compared to engineering estimates. The staff member said the county will forward the bid to ACTS (or ATCS as recorded) for review and that staff will return a recommendation on whether to award or pursue a different route.

The commissioners unanimously approved a motion to table award decisions and hold the bids for review by ACTS Incorporated and county planning staff until the board meets in September. Staff told the board it hopes to present an award recommendation at a later meeting, with the county's planning staff noting a potential suggestion for the December meeting depending on review results.

Votes at a glance: The meeting record shows the following formal actions, each adopted by voice vote with no roll-call tallies provided in the transcript: - Motion to enter partnership agreement with East Providence Township and Bedford County Development Association for a strategic redevelopment economic growth plan: approved. - Motion to adopt Resolution O8.21025, authorizing application to the Pennsylvania Municipal Assistance Program (MAP): approved. - Motion to table broadband ARC Tower bids and forward for review by ACTS Incorporated and planning staff until the September meeting: approved.

Next steps noted by county staff include formal review of the Above Wireless LLC bid package (bonds and supporting documents), comparison to engineering estimates, and a recommendation from ACTS to the commissioners. The record indicates the Turnpike authority will be consulted as the county and township work to ensure East Providence is considered in future Turnpike design, but no agreements with the Turnpike authority were described in the meeting record.