Elk County commissioners approve $100,000 PHFA application, lift burn ban and renew employee health plan

The Elk County Board of Commissioners met on Oct. 28, 2025, and approved a package of routine resolutions and contracts, including an application for $100,000 from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) for accessibility modifications and housing rehabilitation, rescinding a temporary county burn ban, renewal of the county employee health plan for 2026, and ratification of a memorandum of understanding and an IT contract.

Catherine McCollum, the county planning department administrator, asked commissioners to authorize filing an application with PHFA for $100,000 to assist qualifying seniors (62 and older) and homeowners with disabilities with accessibility modifications such as stair lifts, ramps and accessible bathrooms. "I'm applying for $100,000 to help support qualifying seniors, 62 years of age and older or those homeowners with a disability," McCollum said. Commissioners approved Resolution 2025-09 to submit the application by voice vote.

The board also ratified Resolution 2025-10, which rescinded a temporary burn ban the commission had adopted in October amid dry conditions. A county official explained that recent significant rainfall had substantially reduced the fire danger and the rescindment is effective immediately; municipal ordinances governing open burning remain in force. Commissioners approved the rescission by voice vote.

Chief clerk Pat Straw presented the 2026 renewal of the county's employee health plan through Delaware Valley Health Trust. Straw described health care as one of the largest line items in the county budget and said the contract reflected a roughly 9.7% increase for 2026 before earned credits; the transcript records a net county cost of $1,828,739 and a total plan cost stated in the meeting as approximately $1.88 million. Straw also noted the county is bound by a labor contract to pay 85% of premiums, leaving a 15% employee share. "Health care cost is the single, largest cost component of the county's budget next to payroll itself," Straw said. Commissioners approved the renewal by voice vote.

The county ratified a memorandum of understanding with UMWA Local 8123 to add a very high-deductible plan option for covered employees and approved a one-year contract with the Center for Internet Security (Sept. 24, 2025'Sept. 23, 2026) at an annual rate of $995 after IT director Calvin Moore said the state would not cover that membership this year. "If you would like to continue the service, you have to pay the membership fee," Moore said, explaining the county was being asked to cover an expense previously paid from state accounts.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 2025-09 (PHFA application for accessibility/rehab, $100,000): approved by voice vote (motion and second recorded; individual tallies not specified). - Resolution 2025-10 (rescind temporary burn ban): approved by voice vote (motion and second recorded; individual tallies not specified). - Health insurance renewal (Delaware Valley Health Trust) for calendar year 2026: approved by voice vote (motion and second recorded; individual tallies not specified). Net county cost recorded as $1,828,739 in the meeting. - MOU with UMWA Local 8123 to add an additional health-plan option: ratified by voice vote. - One-year contract with the Center for Internet Security (annual fee $995): approved by voice vote.

What happens next

The planning department will file the PHFA application on behalf of the county. Staff will proceed on contract renewals and execute the CIS contract and the MOU as approved. Commissioners also invited the nine America250PA mini-grant finalists to present at a special meeting next Thursday.

The meeting adjourned after a brief press question period in which a reporter asked for the exact number of employees covered under the county plan (chief clerk Straw estimated "about 104, 105" and offered to provide a precise number by email).