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Centre County commissioners approve consent agenda, advance 162‑MW solar project and radio‑tower work
Summary
At their Feb. 24 meeting the Centre County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved routine minutes and a consent agenda, adopted a proclamation declaring March Bleeding Disorders Month, approved a right‑of‑way for the Bloody Skillet radio tower and advanced several planning and contract items — including a proposed 162‑megawatt solar development — to next week’s consent agenda.
The Centre County Board of Commissioners met Feb. 24, 2026 in Bellefonte and carried a slate of routine and project items by unanimous votes.
Chair Mark Higgins convened the meeting at 10:00 a.m. Commissioners Amber Concepcion and Steven Dershem joined him, and Administrator John Franek Jr. reported the Board had met in executive session earlier that morning to discuss a personnel matter. The Board first approved the minutes from its Feb. 17 meeting on a motion by Commissioner Amber Concepcion, seconded by Commissioner Steven Dershem.
The Board adopted Proclamation 8 of 2026 declaring March 2026 Bleeding Disorders Month after Cameron Cedeno, a member of the Western PA Bleeding Disorders Foundation, described his experience living with hemophilia‑B and encouraged residents to take an online screening at Betteryouknow.org. The Board thanked Cedeno for raising awareness and approved the proclamation unanimously.
On planning and development matters, staff introduced two items for inclusion on next week’s consent agenda: a final plan for a 10,000‑square‑foot addition to Homeland Manufacturing Services in Benner Township, and the MPG Solar Project, a proposed solar facility the staff described as roughly 908 acres and 162 megawatts across nine parcels in Burnside and Snow Shoe townships. Developer representative David Brown provided a brief update; the Board voted to add both items to next week’s consent agenda rather than act on them today.
The Board approved a final completion report for the 2019 Centre County Bridge Bundle Project, confirming replacement work on the Mill Street Bridge over Lick Run (Howard Borough) and the Railroad Street Bridge over Buffalo Run (Bellefonte Borough) was declared complete as of Nov. 14, 2025.
Emergency communications items drew two separate actions: the Board approved a Right‑of‑Way agreement with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (acting through the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources) to include the Bloody Skillet tower site in the county’s conventional radio build‑out at no cost to the county for the period Feb. 24, 2026–Feb. 23, 2061. Related build‑out contracts — including a PA State contract with Centre Communications to install an 800 MHz repeater and a professional services contract with Mission Critical Partners — were added to next week’s consent agenda for formal approval.
County IT staff asked to add a one‑year Freshworks IT service‑desk contract ($14,112) to next week’s consent agenda. Human Services staff presented a series of Contract Addendum No. 1 items to increase provider allocations (North Star Support Services, Blair Therapies, Community Services Group, Crossroads Counseling) and to update the corporate name and tax ID for Eagle Valley Residential Services; those addenda were added to next week’s consent agenda. Criminal Justice Planning staff also received approval to submit a project modification request to the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency for the Justice Assistance Grant; the grant total remains $220,833.
When the Board took the consent agenda, it approved a set of items that included a Costars contract for 13 water‑source heat pumps ($50,985), a contract renewal with Centre Communications for microwave equipment maintenance ($206,836, Jan. 1, 2026–Dec. 31, 2029), and a renewal with Eagle Ridge Personal Care Home, LLC ($195,000), among others. The Board also approved a check run dated Feb. 20, 2026 and unanimously approved a letter of support for St. John’s Episcopal Church in Bellefonte to apply for a Keystone Historic Preservation Construction Grant; presenters said the church’s steeple repair estimate is about $200,000 and the grant maximum is $100,000.
The meeting concluded with announcements about canceled March meetings and the Board adjourned at 11:23 a.m.
Votes at a glance - Approve minutes (Feb. 17, 2026): Motion by Commissioner Amber Concepcion; second Commissioner Steven Dershem; vote: Higgins—yes, Concepcion—yes, Dershem—yes; outcome: approved. - Adopt Proclamation 8 of 2026 (Bleeding Disorders Month): Motion recorded; unanimous approval. - Add Homeland Manufacturing Services addition and MPG Solar Project to next week’s Consent Agenda: Motion recorded; unanimous approval. - Approve final completion report for 2019 Bridge Bundle Project: Motion recorded; unanimous approval. - Approve DCNR Right‑of‑Way for Bloody Skillet Tower Site: Motion recorded; unanimous approval. - Add 911-related build‑out contracts (Centre Communications, Mission Critical Partners, PSP addendum) to next week’s Consent Agenda: Motion recorded; unanimous approval. - Add Freshworks IT contract, MH/ID/EI‑D&A addenda, and other listed contracts to next week’s Consent Agenda: Motion recorded; unanimous approval. - Approve Consent Agenda (including heat pumps, Centre Communications renewal, Eagle Ridge renewal): Motion recorded; unanimous approval. - Approve check run (Feb. 20, 2026): Motion recorded; unanimous approval. - Approve letter of support for St. John’s Episcopal Church grant application: Motion recorded; unanimous approval.
What to watch next: the Board will consider the Planning and Community Development land‑use items (Homeland Manufacturing Services final plan; MPG Solar Project), the 911 equipment and services contracts, the Freshworks IT contract, and multiple human services contract addenda at next week’s consent agenda meeting.
