Commissioners approve series of grants, contracts, purchases and personnel actions

The Crawford County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 27 approved a slate of routine payments, grant continuations, equipment purchases and personnel actions affecting public safety, courts, human services and county operations.

The board voted to continue a 2025 STOP (Services, Training, Officers and Prosecutors) grant program in the amount of $125,000 for the county, with $50,000 to pass through to women’s services to fund an embedded courthouse advocate, $35,000 allocated for crimes involving stalking and dating violence, and $35,000 to support an assistant district attorney who prosecutes those crimes. The motion passed on roll call.

Other approved items included a PCCD juvenile victim services grant continuation for $19,448 to support a victim‑witness position; a RASA grant continuation of $61,715 for the district attorney’s office; and a voter‑services election integrity grant request totaling $273,436.81 for calendar years 2025 and 2026, which the board ratified. The elections office also received approval to proceed with a Dominion software upgrade costing $13,844.

The board approved several public‑safety and facilities expenditures: payment of $2,700 to Mobilecom for conduit installation at the Greaser Road tower site; $10,882 for final grading and seating work at the same site; purchase of a Zetron gateway for Pennsylvania State Police console interoperability at $5,065; load bank testing of the public safety building generator at $850 and of a mobile command vehicle generator at $680; and replacement of six condensation pump reservoirs in the public safety data room at a cost of $4,170. The board also ratified payment of $4,640 to Canada Security for three new cameras and moving two existing cameras at the correctional facility.

County information technology and property services actions included approval to pay Civic Vanguard $11,636 for initial phases of GIS server upgrades and data redesign; renewal of multiple tier‑3 customer support plans for security systems (rates and monthly costs were cited in staff reports); and approval of a one‑year retainer of $3,000 with the appraisal consulting firm San Martino Stout & LaPresti for the board of assessment revision, with hourly billing credited against the retainer.

Planning and community programs also received approvals: reimbursements under the Whole Home Repair workforce and retention program to local contractors (Vogue Heating & Cooling $3,200; Ferguson Construction $720; MG Electrical Services $1,417.50; Ron Verka Home Inspections $400); a $5,900 reimbursement to Lyonsville Community Public Library for a generator paid through the Crawford Inspired mini‑grant; and ratification of a $2,812.51 in‑kind donation from Crawford Heritage Foundation to the community service department for trimmers and supplies.

The board ratified multiple routine county maintenance invoices, including repairs to courthouse pumps ($744.27), generator repairs ($1,077.91), purchase of millings for the fairgrounds ($656.38) paid from a grant, and siding materials and labor at the fairgrounds Sportsman’s Building ($6,913.48) to be reimbursed by the fair board.

On personnel matters, the salary board ratified emergency and routine hires and rate settings: a full‑time deputy sheriff (Thomas Andresiak) at $20.60 per hour; a law clerk (William Pachkowski) at $52,500 annually (with a prospective $1,000 add‑on upon bar admission); and creation and appointment of a per‑diem probation aide (Hannah Pelk) at $20 per hour. Retirement‑board motions on vesting and withdrawals were also carried.

Votes at a glance (selected motions approved): - STOP grant continuation, $125,000 (approved) — supports advocate positions and prosecution; passed by roll call. - PCCD juvenile victim services grant, $19,448 (approved). - RASA grant continuation, $61,715 (approved). - Election integrity grant application, $273,436.81 (approved). - Dominion software upgrade for elections, $13,844 (approved). - Civic Vanguard invoice for GIS work, $11,636 (approved). - Multiple public‑safety equipment and service purchases (conduit $2,700; grading $10,882; Zetron gateway $5,065; generator testing $850/$680; cameras $4,640; condensation pumps $4,170) (approved). - San Martino Stout & LaPresti retainer for appraisal consulting, $3,000 (approved). - Reimbursements under Whole Home Repair program (various vendors and amounts) (approved). - County maintenance invoice ratifications (multiple small amounts) (approved). - Personnel actions listed above (approved).

Board members and staff who presented or moved items spoke during the meeting; most motions were moved and seconded and carried on roll call.

The approvals are routine continuations, vendor payments and personnel actions; several items were explicitly budgeted or described as grant continuations in staff presentations. Where staff noted future activity, such as ongoing grant cycles, the board directed standard follow up and will consider further paperwork or future presentations as required.