Solicitor: County exploring new ESU/drug‑task‑force agreements; expects 10,000+ mail‑in ballot requests
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Summary
The county solicitor said communities and police chiefs are working on a proposal to keep ESU and drug task force officers employed by their municipalities while the county reimburses the towns. The solicitor also said the county has about 9,600 mail‑in ballot requests and expects mailings the week of April 13–20, though a pending Washington County case could affect ballots in some precincts.
The county solicitor told commissioners that meetings with municipal representatives and police chiefs are underway to overhaul a 2017 agreement governing the emergency services unit (ESU) and the drug task force. Under the proposal discussed, officers would remain municipal employees while the county would reimburse municipalities for time officers spend on ESU or task‑force duties.
"We're looking at putting together a new agreement," the solicitor said, explaining the change would preserve municipal employment and fringe benefits for officers while the county provides reimbursement. The solicitor said the proposed arrangement responds to requests from officers who asked to remain municipal employees to protect benefits and protections if they are injured in the line of duty.
The solicitor also briefed the body on election logistics: the county has about 9,600 mail‑in ballot requests so far and officials expect that number to exceed 10,000 before mailings begin. "He's still shooting for probably the week of April 13 or April 20 to start receiving the mail and ballot," the solicitor said. The solicitor added that a case pending in Washington County could affect who appears on the ballot in some Beaver County precincts.
A commissioner (identified in the meeting as Commissioner Mann) praised a recently launched law enforcement treatment initiative that directs people with substance use disorder toward treatment rather than incarceration and thanked state and local partners who attended a kickoff. He described Beaver County as one of seven counties in the state participating in the initiative and named local treatment partners who were present at the event.
The solicitor noted there are litigation matters appropriate for executive session; the board moved into executive session to consider those matters after public business concluded.
