Cameron County commissioners approve tourism pact, $75,000 IDA loan and policy updates; discuss $93M BEAD broadband award

Cameron County commissioners on a regular meeting day approved a retroactive memorandum of understanding with Pennsylvania Great Outdoors for joint tourist marketing, a $75,000 loan to Reed's Auto Sales and Service through the county IDA, multiple proclamations and an employee handbook update, and discussed regional broadband and outdoor tourism initiatives.

The board approved the memorandum of understanding with Pennsylvania Great Outdoors to run retroactively from Jan. 1 through June 30, 2028, a temporary term intended to let a future commission review the arrangement before it continues, the chair said. The agreement preserves the county’s participation in the multi‑county promotion program while allowing incoming commissioners a six‑month window to reassess the partnership.

Commissioner Josh, in his report, described ongoing work on trails and road design for the county’s dark‑sky and outdoor recreation project and said the county had met with Layman Engineering for ADA‑compliant grading and site work. “We had a meeting with Layman Engineering to figure out the design and development for that,” Josh said, describing follow‑up site visits and GIS needs for accurate grading.

The board also approved a $75,000 loan from the Industrial Development Authority to Reed’s Auto Sales and Service, with a five‑year term at 1.5% interest, intended for building improvements and equipment purchases. The measure moved on the IDA’s recommendation and carried after a motion and second; roll‑call votes were not recorded in the minutes.

The chair announced a regional award of federal BEAD funds for broadband and described the project as an open‑access build across a 10‑county region. “We were awarded $93 million from BEAD to complete this project over the 10‑county region,” the chair said, and offered to help produce public‑facing materials explaining the project once the county’s messaging was finalized. Commissioners discussed using the broadband funding to benefit residents, businesses and tourism‑related entrepreneurs.

Proclamations approved included a declaration naming March 2026 Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month and a proclamation recognizing a volunteer and donation management plan tied to emergency management preparations. The board also approved revision No. 10 to the county employee handbook to strengthen sexual‑harassment policy language.

Other procedural items approved included an intergovernmental agreement to house pre‑trial and post‑trial detainees for a neighboring county in exchange for reimbursement, a liquid‑fuels request from Shippen Township for winter‑maintenance salt (amount transcribed in the minutes as 3,1835), and acknowledgement of an Act 14 consumptive‑use notice from Diversified Production LLC for the Whooper Wolf pad in Chippen Township. The clerk also reported DCED closeout letters for several CDBG/CEBG contracts and a federal letter regarding fentanyl designation that had been filed for public review.

Discussion items that drew extended comment included tourism strategy, local economic development and reuse of large vacant industrial spaces. Commissioners and attendees debated how to capture overflow visitors for dark‑sky viewing, the potential visitor numbers and how to market wildlife and outdoor assets to draw business and B&B bookings. One attendee noted local business owners had reported B&B bookings from visitors who came specifically for dark‑sky viewing.

The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn at about 11:41 a.m.; the next commissioners meeting is scheduled for March 19 at the courthouse.

Votes at a glance: the minutes record motions and unanimous “all in favor” confirmation for: acceptance of Feb. 19 minutes; the Pennsylvania Great Outdoors MOU (retroactive through June 30, 2028); the Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month proclamation; the intergovernmental detainee agreement; the Shippen Township liquid‑fuels request (amount transcribed as 3,1835); the IDA loan to Reed’s Auto Sales ($75,000, five years, 1.5%); the volunteer and donation management proclamation; and sexual‑harassment policy addendum Revision No. 10. The minutes do not record individual roll‑call votes.