Blair County commissioners approve consent agenda, accept $15,000 Norfolk Southern grant and advertise eminent domain for Bridge 33 parcel

Blair County commissioners met Nov. 20 and approved a slate of routine and project-specific actions, including acceptance of a $15,000 Norfolk Southern Safety First grant for the county emergency management drone program and authorization to advertise an ordinance initiating eminent domain for a 0.3-acre parcel needed for the Bridge 33 project.

The meeting opened at 10 a.m. with the pledge of allegiance. Commissioners approved the previous meeting minutes and a consent agenda read aloud by county staff, which included eight warrants and ratification of payroll dated Nov. 14, 2025, totaling $946,593.89. The consent package also listed budget transfers, permissions to use holiday courthouse lighting, and engineering invoices for bridge projects; the Bridge 33 invoice for final design was $46,410.45 and was described as 95% reimbursable from the Marcellus Shale legacy fund. Reappointments to the Board of Assessment of Appeals and seats on the Blair County Conservation District were announced and approved; one commissioner recorded an abstention on their own reappointment.

Court administration presented a proposal to consolidate individual interpreter contracts into a single umbrella contract aligned with AOPC interpreter certification classifications and rates. "This will save time, save money for you and everyone else involved," Sam, court administration, said during the presentation. The board approved the consolidated services provider and the use of AOPC classifications and rates by voice vote.

Public safety staff requested acceptance of a $15,000 Norfolk Southern Safety First grant to purchase equipment for the Bel Air Emergency Management drone program. The board approved acceptance of the grant; the presenter noted the project remains approximately $10,000 short of full funding and that policies and procedures and operator qualifications are in place. "We are still about $10,000 short of completing the whole project, but we're working on other funding streams," the presenter said.

Juvenile probation asked to renew electronic monitoring services with Track Group at the stated rate of "5 50" per day per device for the period Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2026; the board approved the renewal and confirmed the rate is unchanged from prior years. Public works requested and received approval for six sale deeds and temporary easements for Bridge 33 and authorized Commissioner David Kesseling to sign the documents. During that portion of the agenda, staff also raised a separate, non-controversial question about a county van and said they would follow up on its disposition.

Finance requested and the board approved exclusive letters of authorization to T and F Exploration to manage the county natural gas program and to FMP Holdings to manage the county electric program. Finance also moved to reduce a general fund committed amount from $160,186 to $0 because Valley View Home participants had left the post-employment benefit, and the board approved the reduction. The 2026 general fund and reserve account budgets were introduced and approved by the commissioners.

Social services items included authorizing a staff member to file the Department of Human Services annual opt-out notification for assisted outpatient treatment on behalf of Tricia Johnson, authorization for Commissioner David Kesseling to sign site-specific environmental review checklists for an owner-occupied housing rehabilitation program, approval to sign environmental review and exempt status determination forms for federal FY2024 CDBG projects (economic development, microenterprise assistance, and removal of architectural barriers at the Bellefonte Public Library), and approval of an $875 software update quote from HSS Systems.

Toward the end of the meeting, staff asked the board to advertise an ordinance "signifying the intent to take by eminent domain a fee simple interest" in a 0.3-acre parcel in Logan Township needed for Bridge 33. Staff said the parcel owner(s) are deceased and no next of kin have been identified; the county will take the property and follow statutory claim procedures after the appropriation is posted. The board approved advertising the ordinance.

The meeting adjourned with the next scheduled meeting set for Dec. 4 at 10 a.m. Voting throughout the meeting was by voice; most motions passed on unanimous voice 'Aye' responses except where an abstention on a reappointment was noted.

Votes at a glance: approval of prior minutes (voice vote, approved); consent agenda (voice vote, approved; one abstention on a reappointment); approval of AOPC-aligned interpreter umbrella contract (approved); acceptance of Norfolk Southern Safety First grant, $15,000 (approved); renewal of Track Group monitoring agreement at stated per-device rate (approved); approval of six Bridge 33 deeds/temporary easements (approved); authorization of exclusive utility management letters (approved); reduction of committed funds from $160,186 to $0 (approved); approval of 2026 general fund and reserve budgets (approved); authorization to advertise eminent domain ordinance for 0.3-acre parcel in Logan Township (approved).