Erie County accepts two state public‑health grants for Lake Erie fish safety and wastewater surveillance

Erie County’s finance committee reviewed two supplemental public‑health appropriations from the Pennsylvania Department of Health and discussed how grant dollars should be used.

A county health department representative described a $38,344 award intended for the Great Lakes Restorative Initiative to fund fish‑safety education and public outreach related to Lake Erie. The representative said the funds will be used for education efforts at events and outreach to make residents aware of safe fish consumption.

Committee members welcomed the new funding but cautioned against using one‑time grant dollars to create or permanently expand general‑fund payroll. One member asked that transfers from the new lines be limited and recommended parking some grant dollars as savings to avoid expanding recurring wages funded by a temporary grant.

The committee also reviewed a $55,003 supplemental appropriation to support an expanded wastewater‑surveillance program through June 30, 2027. Staff said the increase covers additional Biobot lab testing, an extra sampling day, and the ability to monitor several additional pathogens; county staff said no general‑fund dollars would be required to sustain the expanded surveillance during the grant period.

County members asked for clarity on the rise in professional fees recorded in the budget amendment; staff explained those fees fund sample collection, shipping and laboratory analysis performed by vendors (the wastewater sampling contractor and Biobot). The committee signaled support for moving these ordinances forward and asked staff to adopt safeguards so grant funds supplement, rather than permanently replace, base budgets.

Next steps: staff will finalize line‑item language and include transfer‑limit recommendations when the ordinances return for formal approval.