Commissioners hear Pocono Mountain tourism report, warn of EMS staffing shortfalls; Trinity wins jail food contract

The Carbon County Board of Commissioners heard a tourism and economic report from the Pocono Mountain Vacation Bureau and discussed local emergency medical services staffing shortages during its regular meeting.

Chris, a representative of the Pocono Mountain Vacation Bureau (PMVB), told commissioners the bureau completed a clean audit and is in a strong financial position. He said the bureau estimates the four-county destination draws about 3,600,000 visitors annually and that Carbon County generates roughly 12% of that visitation. PMVB figures presented to the board said guest spending to the county has risen 32% since 2019 and that direct visitor spending to Carbon County is about $600,000,000; total direct and indirect visitor-related economic activity was shown as about $853,000,000, with local tax benefits on the order of $50,000,000.

"We were in a good financial position, and we did have a clean audit," Chris said, handing commissioners copies of the bureau's board report, audit and supplemental slides.

The PMVB representative described programs meant to spread tourism beyond Jim Thorpe — including developing products in Lansford and other boroughs, coordinating historic assets and exploring partnerships with the Reading & Northern excursion trains — and listed locally targeted grants and services the bureau operates: a visitor center (servicing roughly 400,000 guests annually), a community grant program that returns about $55,000 to local nonprofits, and hotel tax support for borough-level programming.

Proclamation and EMS staffing concerns

The board adopted a proclamation recognizing Emergency Medical Services Week. During discussion following the proclamation, commissioners and several speakers described a statewide shortage of EMS personnel and the local impact on response capacity. County officials said the county has lost multiple ambulance units over recent years; witnesses described closures and consolidations that have left fewer locally based units and lengthened response times in some townships.

Commissioners and presenters warned that delays in transport and gaps in coverage can be consequential and costly; speakers described at least one instance the meeting record summarized as a delayed transfer of a patient that prompted a request for helicopter transport. Board members urged continued local support for volunteer and paid EMS services and discussed difficulties with reimbursement and billing that commissioners said complicate ambulance finances.

Jail food contract awarded

The board voted to award the Carbon County Correctional Facility food-service contract to Trinity, the lower bidder. County staff reported two bids: Aramark at $1,548,220.50 and Trinity at $1,486,134 (the lower base bid). When reviewed on a scale-price basis for the three-year contract the county expects, Trinity’s proposal lowered the total to $1,313,835.75 over three years, producing an estimated savings of $235,384.75 compared with Aramark under the county’s scale assumptions. County staff told commissioners the contract specification calls for 2,800 calories per inmate per day and an estimated 164,250 meals per contract year.

Other business and approvals

Commissioners approved a series of routine financial and administrative items, including payroll and expenditures ratifications, supplemental appropriations and several agreements with outside vendors and local authorities. The board approved quotes for upgraded cameras for county facilities paid from a safety grant, and it approved the Carbon County whole home repair program and several board and authority reappointments.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of minutes (previous meeting 05/01/2025): motion carried (record shows one abstention from the member who said they were absent; other commissioners voted yes). - Budget transfers; supplemental appropriations; payroll and expenditures dated 04/17/2025, 05/02/2025 and through general fund periods: motions ratified (roll call recorded as Commissioner Arner yes; Commissioner Notestein yes; Commissioner Safranco yes, unless noted otherwise). - Bid award: Carbon County Correctional Facility food service — contract awarded to Trinity (three-year scale pricing presented; roll call shows unanimous approval). - Carbon County whole home repair program: motion approved (unanimous on record). - Camera quotes for county buildings and grounds (funded from county safety plan/grant funds): approved (roll call shows unanimous approval). - PCOR loss prevention grant: approved (roll call recorded unanimous yes). - Multiple vendor renewals, agreements and activity approvals listed on the published agenda were approved (motions carried; roll calls recorded as unanimous yes on the record unless an abstention was stated).

Meeting context and next steps

PMVB representatives left slides, the audit and a follow-up spreadsheet for county review. Commissioners asked staff to continue monitoring EMS coverage and reimbursement issues and to report any requests for county assistance or targeted funding. The county will implement the new jail food contract under the terms described in the county procurement presentation.

Ending

Commissioners recessed after taking the day's votes and moved to separate election-board and retirement-board business later on the agenda.