Crawford County commissioners approve dozens of routine budgeted payments, hospital financing resolution and appointments

The Crawford County Board of Commissioners on May 28 approved a resolution designating proposed tax-exempt financing for a local hospital as beneficial and moved a slate of routine, budgeted payments, grants and contracts.

The meeting included the commissioners’ unanimous approval of a resolution presented by a representative of the hospital authority to permit the hospital to borrow up to $6,000,000 for capital improvements and equipment purchases. Commissioners also approved an appointment to a municipal authority board, acceptance of a FEMA hazardous materials response grant, multiple vendor payments and several small contracts and reimbursements that county staff said were covered in existing budgets.

The hospital-financing resolution was presented by Mr. Swift, representing the hospital authority, who said the loan would support “new MRI, CT/CAT scan equipment, negative-pressure rooms, anesthesia equipment, air handlers, elevator work and surgical equipment.” The authority asked the board to approve a resolution finding the financing beneficial to the health, safety and welfare of Crawford County residents; the commissioners adopted the resolution by roll call.

Commissioners approved an appointment to fill a vacancy on the Salt Lake Authority board, naming Jewel McClymonds to serve the remainder of a term noted in materials as beginning 02/2022 and ending 02/1926 (as published in the packet). The board recorded the appointment by roll call.

Other approvals the commissioners recorded included: - Ratification of a FEMA FY2026 Hazardous Materials Response Fund grant in the amount of $13,236 to purchase decontamination supplies and related equipment for county fire departments. - Authorization to purchase and install a warning light at the Public Safety building entrance for $1,490. - Ratification of vendor invoices and purchases including Prime Rides LLC ($6,999.98) to outfit a 2020 Ram truck for county use; Otis Elevator additional materials for a motor repair ($3,360); and payment to PayPal Sanitation (listed in packet) for unclogging a courthouse boiler-room drain ($940). - Approval of software and service renewals and small recurring contracts, including a software license renewal ($2,765) and quarterly service agreements for the judicial center ($2,500). - Authorization of a double-seal coat at Midway Road fairgrounds for $14,532.84. - Ratification of loan payments to CNB Bank for judicial center loans ($73,617.53 and $52,912.09) and ratification of an insurance premium payment for county employee health insurance in the amount of $365,984.86 (with a January–May adjustment of -$23,722.06). - Planning- and housing-related payments and contract actions paid from program funds, including payments to QRS Construction ($23,999.99) and District Goods Construction ($4,731.09) for housing-rehab work on homeowner projects, and award of a professional-services contract to Michael Baker International (not to exceed $18,000) for a DCNR peer-to-peer grant study contingent on solicitor and PA DCNR review. - Ratification of smaller, budgeted law-enforcement and corrections items: training registrations and associated hotel/meals for two officers (line items listed in the packet as budgeted), certification and recertification payments for correctional facility equipment and weapons-qualification range fees.

County staff and department representatives repeatedly noted that the items were budgeted; most motions passed on unanimous roll-call votes. Several presenters described the items as routine or standard maintenance and capital-replacement spending required to keep facilities and services operating.

The board adjourned after routine personnel and retirement-board items were handled later in the meeting. No executive session was reported for the May 28 public session.