Crawford County commissioners approve series of routine purchases, contracts and grant reimbursements

Crawford County commissioners on July 2 approved a batch of budgeted purchases, vendor contracts, grant reimbursements and one board appointment during a work-session meeting, items county staff said are needed to maintain facilities, deliver social services and support upcoming events.

The approvals included routine maintenance contracts and software payments, infrastructure work at the Sugar Lake communications tower, payments tied to the county fair and fairground security upgrades, several human-services contract renewals for fiscal year 2025–26 and a set of small local grant reimbursements, officials said.

County officials said the actions are largely budgeted or grant-funded and intended to keep core services running. Among the larger items discussed were a multi-part site and driveway package for the Sugar Lake tower; a $260,000 payment to bring remaining cameras online at the fairgrounds; and several human‑services contract amendments and renewals needed to cover provider invoices through the end of the fiscal year.

Procurements and maintenance County staff asked for and received approval to ratify or pay for a series of equipment and service contracts. The county will ratify a $12,523.89 purchase of computer hardware from Dell Technologies for indigent defense, and approved smaller annual service payments: $2,385 to Cleveland Brothers for generator testing and maintenance; $2,300 to Global Corrections Security for an annual agreement; and $2,789.73 to MobileCom for an annual radio support plan. A records‑office copier purchase for $4,182 and a $13,474.99 contract to scan and preserve 14 PennDOT highway case files (PDFA preservation) were also approved.

IT, intercom and recorder work The board approved $3,726 to Civic Vanguard for GNS system repairs and maintenance covering February through May, and $6,200 to Interact Insight to create an API between the county's Eventide recorder and CommsCoach software. Commissioners also approved $10,425 to MobileCom to replace a failing building intercom system, which staff said had left the front gate without audio communications.

Sugar Lake tower site work Commissioners approved a cluster of contracts for work at the Sugar Lake tower site: $28,600 for site and driveway excavation; $24,700 for driveway culverts and entrance construction; $25,000 for stormwater drainage work; $14,500 to provide a gravel driveway and pad for the tower; and $23,400 for soil amendments and seeding (lime, fertilizer and grass seed). One commissioner expressed surprise at the $23,400 line item for landscaping but the board approved the package as presented.

Courthouse and bridge work The board approved a $13,020 final payment to Otis for repairs to the courthouse elevator motor. The commissioners also approved a $5,002.54 payment to EADS Group (estimate 29) related to Whiteman Road Bridge (Bridge No. 14); staff said the cost will be reimbursed by PennDOT, with the county paying the 5% share from liquid fuels funds.

Fairgrounds security, cameras and contracts Staff requested and commissioners approved payment to Canada Security LLC to replace a 4‑port PoE switch and bring remaining fairground cameras online (listed at $260,000). The board also approved a security contract with Relentus Group for the 2025 Crawford County Fair and an artist booking contract with Synergy Erie LLC for performer Kyler Braden at the 2025 fair; staff noted fair board approvals are required and these items complete county sign‑off.

Elections equipment and safety purchases County elections staff asked the board to ratify purchases funded by an Election Integrity grant: a Dell Pro 14 laptop for $846.23 to use for ballot printing; two industrial battery‑powered scissor lifts (total $5,225.28) to improve ergonomics when moving heavy voting equipment from high shelving; and a Martin Yale high‑speed letter opener for $1,718.89. An elections presenter told commissioners the lifts will reduce injuries and protect equipment during twice‑yearly logistics and accuracy testing.

Crawford and Tire Mini Grant reimbursements and housing repairs The board approved multiple small grant reimbursements under the Crawford and Tire Mini Grant program: $15,000 to County LA Joint Municipal Authority for a generator replacement; $6,045 to Burlington Center O's Company for LED lighting; $11,438.16 to West Mead #2 Volunteer Fire Department for countywide rope‑rescue equipment; $1,215 to the Copper County Fairgrounds Kilnam Association for a storage project; and $2,805 to the Titusville Historical Society. Commissioners also approved a whole‑home repairs contract with Fuller Building Group and ratified a $22,307.71 payment to Fuller for home repairs to a named homeowner number on file with the county.

Human services and other contracts Human‑services staff asked for approval of a set of FY 2025–26 contracts and amendments: the MATP assurance for FY25–26 (initial allocation not yet received); an $11,000 amendment to the FY24–25 Independent Living services contract with Auberly to cover end‑of‑year expenses; an amendment increasing mobile psychiatric nursing wellness visits with Titusville Area Hospital by $26,000 while reducing outpatient services by $9,000 (net +$17,000) to cover estimated invoices for April–June; and multiple foster‑care, behavioral health and outpatient‑services contracts with local providers (Adoption Connection PA, Crawford County Drug & Alcohol Executive Commission, Justice Works YouthCare, Meraki Pennsylvania, Mercer County Behavioral Health Commission, Sugar Valley Lodge and others). Staff said contract rates are the same as prior years for some providers and that two Crawford mental‑health consumers are placed at Sugar Valley Lodge under the current contracts.

Invoices and county match payments The commissioners approved routine invoices and required county match payments: $2,210.39 to the U.S. Treasury (2024 ACORN fee); $590,005.84 county match for CYS for quarter 3; $56,161.34 county match for HSBG early intervention (quarter 3); a $55,529 reimbursement to Community Health Services for May 2025 trips; and a $6,500 payment for an Active Aging used vehicle purchase. Staff also noted a contract with Susquehanna Accounting and Consulting Solutions for consulting services was ratified.

Appointments and other business The board approved the appointment of Kelly Davis to the Northwest JobConnect board, effective July 9, 2025, and approved a $8,668.50 payment to PGP to recoup a Highmark credit related to a 2024 ASO overbilling.

Commissioner comments and next steps In closing comments Commissioner Schuck praised county IT staff for their work on a recent Webex phone‑system rollout, saying the department "worked extremely hard on this phone project," and urged employees to report any remaining issues to IT. The board noted upcoming full sessions on July 9 and July 16, and that county offices will be closed for the July 4 holiday.

The meeting record does not include roll‑call vote tallies for each approval; staff said many items were budgeted or grant‑funded. Specific invoice amounts, vendor names and contract purposes listed above are taken from the staff presentations to the commissioners at the July 2 work session.