Blair County commissioners approve routine contracts, housing disbursements and elections equipment

The Blair County Board of Commissioners approved a series of routine contracts, service agreements and disbursements at its May 15 meeting, including a maintenance contract for prison identification equipment, a juvenile detention services agreement, multiple Children and Youth purchase-of-service agreements, four $10,000 weatherization disbursements from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and replacement batteries and equipment for voting machines.

The actions were carried by voice vote with no recorded roll-call tallies in the transcript. The board also ratified payroll and a set of budget transfers listed in the consent agenda and noted a letter of support to U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick for Hollidaysburg Borough’s requested congressional funding for an Allegheny Street storm sewer project.

Why it matters: the approvals cover daily county operations and services used by residents—from probation and detention placements to children’s behavioral-health providers and home weatherization assistance—and include an elections-equipment expense ahead of upcoming voting activity.

Key approvals - Prison maintenance: The board approved an agreement between Blair County Prison and the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association for “live scan CPN maintenance” for Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2025, at $6,582. A county presenter explained the contract covers equipment used at the booking center for processing individuals on intake.

- Juvenile detention: Commissioners approved a 2025–26 contract between Blair County Juvenile Probation and Centre County Youth Center for juvenile detention at a rate of $5.95 per day, per juvenile, with additional fees as specified in the contract. A commissioner noted that beds are scarce across the state and stressed the high cost to the county, saying, “this is extremely expensive.”

- Children and Youth agreements: The board approved multiple 2025–26 purchase-of-service and HIPAA business associate agreements, including contracts with Perseus House Inc.; Children’s Aid and Home Programs of Somerset County; Evolution Counseling Services, LLC; an interagency agreement with the Blair County Infant, Toddler, and Early Intervention Program; and a memorandum of understanding with KidFirst Affiliated Services, LLC to implement the Healthy Families of America home-visiting program.

- Data release: The board approved Data Release Agreement No. 22407, Amendment 1, between Blair County and The Pennsylvania State University to permit authorized-user data use for commercial purposes as outlined in the agreement, effective on signature through Sept. 22, 2029, at no cost to the county.

- Affordable Housing Trust Fund disbursements: Commissioners approved four deferred-weatherization disbursements of $10,000 each for properties at 1816 20th Ave., Altoona; 204 Lexington Ave., Altoona; 2415 Old Route 22, Duncansville; and 1507 Logan Ave., Tyrone.

- Elections equipment: The board approved a March 25, 2025 quote between the Board of Elections and Election Systems and Software LLC to replace batteries in DS200 scanners and ExpressVote ballot-marking devices for $37,338. A county official confirmed the cost was budgeted.

Votes at a glance (as recorded in the meeting transcript) - Consent agenda (ratifications, payroll, budget transfers, letter of support to Sen. McCormick): approved; one commissioner recorded an abstention on the payment to Hollidaysburg Borough. - Agreement with Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association (prison maintenance), $6,582: approved. - 2025–26 Centre County Youth Center juvenile detention contract, $5.95/day per juvenile: approved. - Multiple Children & Youth 2025–26 contracts (Perseus House Inc.; Children’s Aid and Home Programs of Somerset County; Evolution Counseling Services, LLC; Blair County Infant, Toddler, and Early Intervention Program; KidFirst MOU): approved. - Data Release Agreement No. 22407, Amendment 1 (Penn State): approved. - Four Affordable Housing Trust Fund weatherization disbursements, $10,000 each: all approved. - Quote for replacement batteries and equipment (Election Systems and Software LLC), $37,338: approved.

What commissioners said: a presiding commissioner noted the juvenile detention contract’s daily rate and cautioned about statewide bed shortages. The same commissioner said the $5.95/day rate was “one of the lower costs” the county had seen but reiterated the overall expense to taxpayers.

Next steps: most approvals are contracts or one-year agreements that take effect on the dates specified in each agreement or upon signature. The board’s next meeting is scheduled for May 22 at 10 a.m.