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Commissioners hear presentations on ortho imagery for tax assessment, prison ServSafe classes and bridge needs
Summary
County planning and tax-assessment staff showed updated ortho imagery and explained parcel-data updates (no countywide reassessment); Penn State Extension described ServSafe classes at the correctional facility; ATCS presented that four county bridges need repair with a preliminary cost estimate of about $12 million.
At the April 14 meeting, Bedford County planning and tax-assessment staff described how recent ortho imagery and field-assessor visits will be used to update parcel records, strengthen the taxable base and trigger change-of-assessment notices to property owners. Stephanie Clevenstine, director of planning, said the county uses ortho imagery updated every three to five years at a cost of about $3,600.
Nicole Abbott, director of tax assessment, told the board the last countywide reassessment was completed in 2012 and emphasized that "there is NOT going to be a reassessment"; instead, parcel-level updates and field visits will prompt change-of-assessment notices and property owners will have 40 days to file appeals.
Representatives from Penn State Extension described a ServSafe food-safety certification program delivered at the Bedford County Correctional Facility. Jeff Hackenberg and Beth Kocsis reported the certification lasts five years, that classes are held regularly for residents at the facility, and that the program has yielded success stories and plans for expansion to other facilities.
Aaron Craig, P.E., director of structural engineering for ATCS, briefed commissioners on county bridge conditions. He said Bedford County is responsible for 37 bridges, with four currently identified as needing repair or replacement. Craig provided a preliminary combined estimate of about $12 million for those projects, noted inspection frequency requirements overseen by the Federal Highway Administration and PennDOT processes, and described funding constraints and competitive grant opportunities. He also noted potential local tools such as a $5.00 county registration fee (allowed by state law) that could be used for bridge improvements.
The presentations framed technical groundwork for upcoming administrative steps: tax-assessment notifications, potential grant applications for bridge replacement, and program expansion discussions for workforce training in correctional facilities.
