Lock Haven council awards Keller Engineers CDBG contract, approves audit consultant and accepts SEDACOG repayment offer

Lock Haven — At its April 6 meeting, the Lock Haven City Council approved several financial and contracting items related to community-development projects and audits.

Keller Engineers contract: Staff reported that two proposals were received for engineering services supporting the city’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. After review by staff (including project manager Carter Simcox and SEDACOG representative Angie Kemberling), the council awarded an hourly-basis contract to Keller Engineers to serve as the engineering consultant for anticipated CDBG projects.

Audit-support agreement: The council also approved an as-needed agreement with Susquehanna County Consulting Solutions to assist city staff in assembling audit reports for the 2024 and 2025 audits. Staff said the consultant is familiar with the city’s accounting system (MIP) and will bridge reporting gaps during the transition; the contract is intended to be temporary and used as needed.

SEDACOG payment-and-release agreement: The council accepted a payment-and-release agreement from SEDACOG related to monitoring of the city’s HOME program. SEDACOG offered to pay 75% of a repayment demand (the amount offered: $55,736.25) and had already covered administrative fees ($2,550.84); the total repayment amounted to approximately $76,865.84. Staff described the payment as a good-faith settlement following monitoring, and the council accepted the agreement so the funds and the executed release can be recorded.

Votes and next steps: The council moved, seconded and approved each contract/agreement by roll call. Staff said the Susquehanna consulting arrangement will be limited to the current audit cycle and that Keller Engineers will be engaged on an hourly basis for CDBG work; staff will manage scope and hours as projects develop.