Mifflin County commissioners approve sewer and water payments, loan, grants and personnel changes

Mifflin County Commissioners held a regular meeting at 9 a.m. and approved a series of contracts, payments and personnel items affecting county infrastructure, public safety and county operations.

The commissioners approved two payment applications tied to ongoing utility extension projects. The payment application for the Hausstone/Austone water extension project was approved in the amount of $38,194.28; the county’s portion of ineligible grant expenses on that application is $1,856. The commissioners also approved payment application No. 7 for the Austin sewer extension project, in the amount of $199,092.76; ineligible expenses on that application total $22,007.90. Planning Director Jim said private sewer laterals are complete and that pump stations and generators were expected to be delivered and installed by mid-May. He said paving restoration for the water trenches is scheduled for next week and that project completion is anticipated in late May or early June.

The board approved a subrecipient loan agreement to provide a $500,000, 0% interest loan to the Brown Township Municipal Authority for a 10-year period to extend public sewer service from behind the Geisinger facility on Route 655 toward the medical facility, Reedsville fire station and the township municipal building. The loan would amortize at $50,000 per year over 10 years; copies of the agreement and the loan draw schedule were discussed as next steps.

Separately, the commissioners approved the final payment of $47,944.72 to Mid State Construction for improvements at the senior center in Jaeger Town, following the engineer’s substantial completion finding on April 11. The county also conditionally approved an Act 152 remediation request to demolish a condemned duplex at 545–547 Woodland Avenue. The contractor estimate provided was $21,888 and the applicant requested 70% of the total cost ($15,321.60); the board approved the request contingent on execution of a memorandum of understanding between the parties.

The board adopted two subscriptions and agreements: an $873 annual legal research subscription for district judges with Reuters (as presented) and a LexisNexis contract to provide online law library research services for Aug. 1, 2025–Jan. 31, 2027, with first-year cost listed at $536 and second-year cost at $563. The commissioners also approved a no-fee technical assistance agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections for county correctional facility support as presented.

The board conducted appointments and personnel actions. William Howard was appointed chair of the Agricultural Land Preservation Board and John Sticker of Belleville was appointed to fill an unexpired term on the same board (term to expire at the end of 2025). Personnel items approved included multiple resignations and retirements (Seth Snyder, part-time CO, effective April 11; Trevor Heil, part-time deputy sheriff; retirement of Sandra House, probation secretary, effective April 25; retirement of Sheriff Jim Dreher effective May 2) and hires including Danisha Yoder (911). The commissioners noted they would post the Ag Land Preservation Board application window for purchasing easements and development rights.

During a short public-safety item, the board issued a proclamation declaring National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in April 2025 and a 911 telecommunicator on staff said the center normally staffs three telecommunicators per daylight shift plus a supervisor and runs two on midnight shift; on the day of the meeting the center was short one position. “On shift we have three normally. If we are full staff we would have three on daylight plus supervisor, three on [first shift], and two on midnight,” the telecommunicator said.

Other routine business approved included acceptance of an offer of $25 for an unsold parcel in Vernonborough (buyer to remove a mobile home), approval of the treasurer’s report for the period beginning April 2 and ending April 15, 2025 (the treasurer noted high payables but also substantial tax receipts), and approval of accounts payable for the period totaling $1,479,270.45 with payroll of $371,033.48. Several actions were moved, seconded and adopted by voice vote; where roll-call tallies were not recorded in the minutes, the transcript shows unanimous “aye” voices for approved motions.

The meeting closed after the commissioners handled routine calendar items, appointments and personnel approvals. The board instructed staff to circulate required documents (for example, the Act 152 memorandum of understanding) for execution and to continue oversight of the water and sewer projects as they move toward completion.