Bedford County approves purchase of building for Children & Youth Services, authorizes $1.056 million note

The Bedford County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 9 approved an Agreement of Sale with Hometown Bank to buy property at 220 South Thomas Street in Bedford for $1,040,000 plus costs and enacted an ordinance authorizing issuance of a $1,056,000 general obligation note to fund the purchase and related costs.

The ordinance — titled General Obligation Note, Series of 2025 — passed on a roll-call vote with Commissioner Stiles and Commissioner Baughman voting yes and Commissioner Winck voting no. The ordinance authorizes the county to sell the note at private sale by negotiation, names Hometown Bank as paying agent and sinking fund depositary, and requires the county to budget and appropriate debt service payments. Interest is payable initially on Nov. 9, 2025, and monthly thereafter, and the note’s outstanding principal and accrued interest are due Oct. 9, 2045, according to the ordinance text.

Commissioner Baughman provided an update to the board on the stated purpose and need for the new office location for county operations and Children & Youth Services; Commissioner Winck registered opposition to the property purchase during the motion. County staff said the consultant representing the financing (via telephone) explained ordinance exhibits and that a ribbon-cutting is planned in late October.

The Agreement of Sale was approved by motion of Commissioner Baughman, seconded by Commissioner Winck; the ordinance was enacted subsequently and awarded the note to Hometown Bank per the proposal on file with the county. The board’s official vote on the ordinance was recorded as Stiles yes, Baughman yes, Winck no.

Next steps: county officers are authorized to file required debt statements and other filings under the Pennsylvania Local Government Unit Debt Act and to close with the bank after required departmental approvals.