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Clinton County commissioner warns DOJ-recommended Rockview closures could harm local jobs and families
Summary
At the Sept. 18 Clinton County Commissioners meeting, Commissioner Harding called the U.S. Department of Justicereport recommending closure of Rockview "shocking," saying the change could cost the region jobs and force longer commutes for staff.
At the Sept. 18 meeting of the Clinton County Board of Commissioners, Commissioner Harding said the U.S. Department of Justicehas delivered a final report to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro recommending the closure of Rockview. Harding said the proposal is already "sending shock waves" through Center and Clinton counties and warned of economic harm for families and employees.
"Central Pennsylvania, according to reports, stands to lose about $118,000,000 annually because of these closures," Harding said. He added that while officials say there will be savings, "the savings are going to come at a cost of Center and Clinton County both from the families that are living in our community and driving to Rockview." He said that 62% of current Rockview staff "are going to have to drive further to work if they take another position at another location," and that for some that could be "at least an hour or more."
Why it matters: County officials said Rockview staff provide locally significant wages and that closing facilities would shift commuting burdens to employees and affect household incomes in rural communities. Harding urged county residents who work at Rockview to seek alternatives but said the closures represent a broader loss to rural Pennsylvania.
The comments were made during the commissioners' regular meeting and were framed as a response to media reporting of the DOJ recommendation; the meeting transcript does not record any formal county action directed at the state or federal government during the session. No specific mitigation steps, motions, or county-level policy changes were proposed or approved at the meeting.
The board chair acknowledged Harding's remarks but no other commissioners or county staff provided additional analysis on projected job losses, state timelines for closure, or any county-level assistance plans during the meeting.
The transcript records Harding's remarks as part of general comments to the board; the county clerk later confirmed external auditors are on track to complete the county's 2024 audit by Sept. 30 and will report at the Oct. 4 commissioners meeting.
