Blair County commissioners approve grant closeout, equipment purchase, rate lock and recycling grant

Blair County commissioners on May 22 approved a series of routine and programmatic items including a Community Development Block Grant closeout valued at $905,960, purchase of two TASER training packages for $10,399.20, a request to lock the county's natural gas rate up to 4.75, and ratification and acceptance of a $40,558.62 recycling coordinator grant. During public comment a resident asked for an update on creation of the "veil trail authority" and the naming of a new TPA; no staff action on those requests was taken at the meeting.

The board approved a consent agenda that included warrants, payroll and multiple personnel items but removed two invoices — payments to Hollidaysburg Borough and Blair Senior Services — to be considered at a later meeting. The consent agenda included a paycheck payroll ratification dated May 16, 2025, in the amount of $923,159.19 and routine intern approvals (St. Francis University intern Evan J. Sanders, May 27–Aug. 25, 2025; Pennsylvania State University intern Zoe Gray, May 26–July 31, 2025). The motion to approve the consent agenda passed by voice vote with the two invoices removed for separate handling.

Social services staff presented and the commissioners authorized Commissioner David Kesseling to sign the federal fiscal year 2020 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) closeout status report for contract 77,647 in the amount of $905,960 and submit it to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). A social services staff member described CDBG as an ongoing federal entitlement that flows through the state from HUD and highlighted local uses of the program: the county's 2020 allocation contributed to construction of a new family shelter (a roughly $4 million project that combined city and federal funds), multi‑year water and sewer extension work in Frankstown, street and drainage improvements in Annas Township including sidewalk connections, and housing rehab assistance for eight units across Annas, Blair, Frankstown, Greenfield, Hollidaysburg and Tyrone.

The board approved a quote from Axon Enterprise for two TASER TEM packages, including equipment, software, warranty and certification for training, in the total amount of $10,399.20. The purchase was identified as funded by the referenced loss‑prevention grant noted in the vendor submission. The motion to approve the TASER packages passed by voice vote.

Finance staff asked the board to "walk in" (lock) a natural gas rate for county accounts for the Nov. 25 through Oct. 26 period; staff reported a current variable rate of 4.606 and requested authorization to lock up to a maximum of 4.75. Commissioners approved the request by voice vote.

The board also moved to ratify the county's application for reimbursement under the 2024 recycling coordinator grant (grant number 2024903) in the amount of $40,558.62 and separately approved accepting the grant award for that amount. Both motions passed by voice vote.

Public comment was short. A resident asked for an update on the status of a "veil trail authority," the process for creating it and the naming of a new TPA; no action or staff assignment was recorded in response. Commissioners offered several nonagenda comments, including thanks to election workers and a note that the county tax levy supports the local library system; those were remarks, not formal actions.

The commissioners adjourned and scheduled their next meeting for Thursday, May 29.