Potter County commissioners approve investment resolution, engineering retainers and multiple county contracts

Potter County commissioners meeting on June 18 approved a series of routine but consequential contracts and fiscal items, including a resolution authorizing the county to place funds in the Pennsylvania Local Government Investment Trust Fund and two engineering retainer agreements for land-development reviews.

The meeting opened with roll call and the board moved quickly through consent business. By voice vote the commissioners approved Resolution No. 6 of 2026, which authorizes county officials to transfer revenue into the Pennsylvania Local Government Investment Trust Fund as an alternative investment vehicle, a move described by commissioners as providing another place to invest county funds potentially at higher rates.

Planning Director Will Hunt briefed the board on the county’s recommendation to designate the Eids Group as the primary engineering reviewer and ENM Engineering as the secondary reviewer for subdivision and land-development plans, a step county staff said is intended to strengthen technical review of high-impact projects such as data centers. Hunt said there is no retainer and that applicants who request reviews would be charged the firms’ fees rather than county taxpayers. "These engineers would provide recommendations for either changes, modifications or conditional approvals if necessary and would be able to ensure that those practices are carried through the whole process," Hunt said.

Commissioners approved both service agreements by voice vote. A commissioner noted Potter County historically used on-call engineers and supported restoring that capacity; the board agreed the model places review costs on applicants, not taxpayers.

Separately, the commissioners approved a three-year lease amendment with the Potter County Education Council for classroom space across the street, a contract with Sidnet for audio/video services at the county jail (June 1, 2026–May 31, 2030) and a related Sidnet data-usage agreement covering content and security applications for the same term. The board noted the county solicitor had reviewed the Sidnet contracts and that revenue generated by the services offsets contract costs.

The board also approved an intergovernmental agreement to house inmates in Center County at $75 per day for calendar year 2026 and approved a package of housing and coordinated services contracts for children and youth covering transportation, mental health and substance use services.

On personnel, HR Manager Danielle Gitler requested and won approval to hire Caitlyn Rothermell as a part-time summer intern effective June 3 at $12 per hour; the position will rotate among four county offices and is budgeted. The board approved two separations: the separation of Jelina Matas from the Domestic Relations Department (effective May 28, within a 90-day probation period) and the retirement notice of Mary Freeman, deputy administrator of aging, with a last day of July 2, 2026.

The commissioners approved multiple fiscal summaries for county funds and agencies (items dated May 14, June 1 and May 29, and June 11 reports for the Tax Claim Bureau and Human Services) by voice vote. The meeting closed with scheduling the next meeting for June 25, 2026, and an adjournment vote.

Votes at a glance: Resolution No. 6 of 2026 — approved (voice vote); Eids Group service agreement — approved (voice vote); ENM Engineering secondary agreement — approved (voice vote); Potter County Education Council lease amendment — approved (voice vote); Sidnet audio/video services — approved (voice vote); Sidnet data-usage agreement — approved (voice vote); Intergovernmental inmate housing with Center County — approved (voice vote); Children and youth services contracts — approved (voice vote); Hire of Caitlyn Rothermell (part-time intern) — approved (voice vote); Separation of Jelina Matas — approved (voice vote); Retirement of Mary Freeman — approved (voice vote); Multiple fiscal summaries — approved (voice votes).