Luzerne County Council approves six measures by roll call, amends minutes; introduces capital and budget ordinances

Luzerne County Council approved six measures by roll call during its Oct. 14 voting session, including an ordinance updating the GIS and mapping department fee schedule and several routine financial and contract‑related resolutions.

The measures passed included adoption of the GIS and mapping fee schedule; approval of Zigmund & Company’s recommended security bond limits for calendar year 2026; a modification of an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)‑funded project for the Wilkes‑Barre/Scranton International Airport; authorization for the county manager to apply for a statewide Local Share Account (LSA) grant; allocation of opioid settlement funds to XT Enterprise (Recover You); and authorization of a lease renewal agreement between Luzerne County and Domfort Enterprises. All items were approved by roll call. The lease renewal passed 10–1, with Commissioner/Member Haas recorded as the sole no vote.

Why it matters: These votes enact administrative and financing steps county leaders said are needed to manage county operations and to take advantage of state and federal funding opportunities. The ARPA modification and the LSA grant authorization are intended to secure funding for infrastructure and airport projects; the opioid‑settlement allocation funds treatment or recovery services specified by the resolution.

Key outcomes and roll‑call details - GIS and mapping department fee schedule (ordinance): motion made and seconded; roll call recorded unanimous approval ("Unanimous" on the floor). (See transcript support starting 00:11:05.) - Security bond limits (Zigmund & Company) for calendar year 2026 (resolution): approved by unanimous roll call. (Transcript support 00:11:48.) - ARPA project modification for Wilkes‑Barre/Scranton International Airport (resolution): approved by unanimous roll call. (Transcript support 00:12:08.) - Authorization to apply for a statewide LSA grant (resolution): approved by unanimous roll call. (Transcript support 00:12:49.) - Allocation of opioid settlement funds to XT Enterprise (Recover You) (resolution): approved by unanimous roll call. (Transcript support 00:13:07.) - Lease renewal agreement with Domfort Enterprises (resolution): motion passed 10–1; Commissioner/Member Haas voted no. (Transcript support 00:13:51.)

Minutes amendment: Council voted to amend the minutes of its Sept. 23 voting session to reflect an additional no vote by Mister Perry on the responsible contracting ordinance. The amendment was adopted after a motion and second and recorded roll call.

Introductions (no final votes at this meeting): Council received introductions of ordinances to amend the capital plan and the fiscal year 2025 and 2026 budgets. The county manager said public hearings will follow.

What the record shows: All vote outcomes and roll call language are recorded in the meeting transcript. Where the transcript records the outcome as "unanimous," this article reports that designation; where the transcript records a tally, the article reports the tally exactly as recorded.

Next steps: Routine items that passed will be implemented by the responsible county departments. Budget and capital plan amendments remain at the introduction stage and will return for public hearings and subsequent votes.