Blair County commissioners on Thursday approved the county's 2026 general fund and reserve-account budgets, ratified payroll and passed a series of routine contracts and grant-related actions as the board closed out business before the holiday recess.

The board's presiding official (Speaker 1) moved to approve the consent agenda, which included Resolution 567-2025 ratifying 10 listed warrants and the county payroll for the pay date of Dec. 12, 2025, totaling $961,176.05. Speaker 3 noted the consent items also included several budget transfers for legal fees (McNeese Wallace), two tax-claim related transfers and five transfers to cover maintenance of county vehicles. "These expenses are 95% reimbursable and will be paid from the Marcellus Shale Legacy Fund," Speaker 3 said; the motion carried by voice vote.

Finance Director Steph (Speaker 4) asked the board to approve the 2026 general fund and reserve account budgets as presented on Nov. 18, 2025. "There have been no changes," Speaker 4 said; the board moved and approved the budgets.

On infrastructure, the board approved the 2025 Lakemont Dam inspection report prepared by Foreman Engineers, Inc. (inspection performed by Gwen Dodson) after Speaker 5 reported only "small things" and "minor, minor things" were found. The board also approved a 2026 inspection proposal from Foreman Engineers, Inc. for $1,500, with out-of-scope work billed at $120 per hour "following authorization from the county," language included in the proposal.

Housing and grant-related actions included approval to submit two activity-completion extension requests to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Department of Community and Economic Development: a CDBG activity for fiscal year 2021 (extension from Dec. 31, 2025 to Jan. 23, 2026) and a 2020 HOME contract (extension from Dec. 5, 2025 to Jan. 16, 2026). Speaker 6 said both activities are wrapping up and the county needs additional time to complete them.

Speaker 6 also requested and the board granted authorization for Commissioner David Kesseling to act as the chief elected official and sign a site-specific Tier 2 environmental review record for a Blair County owner-occupied housing rehab unit under the county's whole-home repair program.

Under the Affordable Housing Trust Fund code-compliance repair assistance program, the board approved a property-owner/contractor agreement between the Blair County Department of Social Services, contractor Glenn Eakin and Harnes General Construction LLC to renovate a porch at 523 North 10th Avenue in Altoona, not to exceed $5,000. Speaker 2 asked a clarifying question about eligibility, and Speaker 6 explained the program requires a code violation to qualify and noted the porch work addresses ingress/egress issues.

Other approvals included a proposal from the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP) to prepay tax-collector bonds for a four-year period with a prepaid premium of $63,168 and an estimated net county cost of $20,007.17 after reimbursements from municipalities and school districts; the board was told prepayment yields roughly a 6% savings (about $3,000) versus annual installments. The board also approved comprehensive bid requirements and contract documents prepared by Keller Engineers for the Blair County parking garage rehabilitation project, clearing the documents to proceed to bidding.

There was no old business. The board adjourned after moving and seconding the motion to end the meeting and set the next meeting for Jan. 8, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.

Quotes in this article are taken verbatim from the meeting transcript and are attributed to the speakers as labeled in the record (e.g., "Speaker 1").