Blair County commissioners approve contracts, grants and $20,000 housing allocation; proclaim Pennsylvania 4‑H week

The Blair County Board of Commissioners on March 12 approved a series of routine contracts, grant acceptances and appointments and issued a proclamation recognizing Pennsylvania 4‑H Week.

The board voted to allocate $20,000 from the County Affordable Housing Trust Fund to Team Effort to support low‑to‑moderate‑income family home renovations. Scott Nervin, who identified himself as representing Team Effort, told commissioners the program this year expanded to a ninth week and said, “we're close to almost 600 people signed up” for camp and service projects. Harry Hauge, introduced by Nervin as a coordinator working with local churches, thanked the board for its annual support and described how roughly 15 to 20 churches provide meals and volunteer labor for the program.

The commissioners also renewed a contract with the Center for Community Action for housing assistance, case management and emergency shelter services through June 30, 2026, with a maximum contract amount of $350,000. A commissioner asked whether other agencies provide similar services; Social Services staff said the Center for Community Action is the primary agency used for the majority of those services.

Court administration requested and received approval to amend a contract with SecureTech Systems to install alarm panels at magisterial district judge offices and a satellite adult parole office. The court said it moved away from an Internet‑dependent platform to use the sheriff's office radio network over concerns about Internet reliability; the change increased the project cost by $4,517 to a total of $52,885, which court administration said the court will cover.

Julia Burton asked the board to renew the county's contract with JusticeText, a vendor the county described as expanding from transcription to include image and text analysis. Burton said the contract is fully funded through an IDAC grant and will be reimbursed from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. “The functionality is drastically increased,” she said, noting new beta features for searching large volumes of records.

Emergency Services received approval for several items: a preventive maintenance visit from Palco Power Systems for $796.49; a time extension for a 2024 9‑1‑1 statewide interconnectivity grant through Dec. 31, 2026; facility rental for the local emergency planning summit at an amount not to exceed $12,000 (to be paid from Act 165 funds and sponsorships); and acceptance of a FY2026 hazardous materials preparedness grant from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency totaling $7,960. The board also authorized bid specifications and advertisement for two public‑safety small unmanned aerial systems (two drones).

Public Works obtained approval for an emergency towing invoice to Savo's Garage for $330, ratification and advertisement for the County Road 101 preservation project in Greenfield and Freedom townships, a purchase agreement under the bidding threshold for line‑striper maintenance services, a $1,400 trimming quote for trees along County Road 101, and a hold‑harmless agreement allowing Blair Senior Service to use the agency wash bay (an abstention was noted on that item).

The Tax Claim Bureau won approval for two vendor agreements with Infocom Corporation: a print‑services agreement for certified notices through Dec. 31, 2026, at $8,636 plus postage and a daily tracking service agreement for certified mailing records through Dec. 31, 2027, for $3,499.08 annually.

Other items approved included replacement of the Fort Roberdeau farmhouse water filtration system ($5,368); fabrication and installation of countertops in the prothonotary chair's office ($2,876); and a quarter‑page advertising agreement for $1,560 with Where & When Pennsylvania bridal guide.

The board read and approved a proclamation designating March 21, 2026, as Pennsylvania 4‑H Week; Penn State Extension educator Christine Coral and youth member McKenna Lee joined commissioners for a photo. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn; the board scheduled its next meeting for March 19, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.

Votes at a glance - Proclamation: Pennsylvania 4‑H Week — adopted (voice vote). - Consent agenda (payroll $973,213.56; appointments; warrants) — ratified (voice vote); abstentions noted on specified payments. - SecureTech Systems contract amendment (increase $4,517, new total $52,885) — approved (voice vote). - JusticeText contract renewal (IDAC grant funded) — approved (voice vote). - Palco preventive maintenance — approved (voice vote). - 9‑1‑1 grant time extension — approved (voice vote). - LEPC summit facility rental (≤$12,000) — approved (voice vote). - FY2026 HAZMAT grant acceptance ($7,960) — approved (voice vote). - Bid specs for two public‑safety drones — approved (voice vote). - Savo's emergency towing invoice ($330) — approved (voice vote). - County Road 101 preservation advertisement — approved (voice vote). - Line striper maintenance purchase agreement — approved (voice vote). - Tree trimming quote ($1,400) — approved (voice vote). - Hold‑harmless agreement with Blair Senior Service — approved (voice vote); abstention noted. - Infocom print services ($8,636 + postage) and tracking service ($3,499.08) — approved (voice votes). - Affordable Housing Trust allocation to Team Effort ($20,000) — approved (voice vote). - HHS systems mitigation/migration quote ($10.50/day; $150/hour after) — approved (voice vote). - Center for Community Action renewal (max $350,000) — approved (voice vote). - Fort Roberdeau filtration replacement ($5,368) — approved (voice vote). - Countertops installation ($2,876) — approved (voice vote). - Advertising agreement ($1,560) — approved (voice vote).

Sources: Proceedings of the Blair County Board of Commissioners meeting, March 12, 2026 (transcript).