Venango County commissioners approve Human Services contracts, park restoration and $5.41 million in warrants

Venango County’s board of commissioners approved dozens of Human Services contracts and other county business at a public meeting July 14 in Room 100 of the Courthouse Annex.

Commissioner Samuel H. Breene called the meeting to order at 4:36 p.m.; Pastor Eric Reamer gave the invocation and attendees recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Commissioners amended the meeting agenda to add four items, including a juvenile-detention agreement and park contracts, and approved the June 9, 2026 minutes.

The board voted to approve Attachment C, a lengthy set of Human Services provider agreements effective July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027. The contracts cover psychological and pediatric therapy services, substance-use and behavioral-health providers, senior services, software and fiscal consultants, and a range of supports for individuals with disabilities. Notable contract terms announced in the meeting record include a Center for Family Services supervised-visitation allocation not to exceed $200,000 (1,600 hours at $125 per hour); Family Services and Children’s Aid Society specialized-support services with a contract maximum listed at $162,297.60; Susquehanna Software quarterly support capped at $39,700; and multiple Youth Alternatives program budgets for after-school and camping services. Several SUD and behavioral-health providers (Gaudenzia, Gateway Rehabilitation, Stepping Stones) had daily inpatient and detox rates recorded and amendments shifting some programs to cost-reimbursement with named maximums. The board approved the Human Services items on a motion by Commissioner Timothy M. Heffernan, seconded by Commissioner Kenneth J. Bryan, recorded as "aye all."

In finance business, commissioners approved warrants listed in Attachment D that the clerk read into the record; the warrants total $5,408,598.71 across human-service and non-human-service payments. The motion to approve warrants passed on the same recorded vote.

Park and capital items were also on the agenda. Two Mile Run County Park Director Kara Kauffman reported a busy summer calendar — a June 29 free beach day drawing about 500 attendees, a Luke-a-Palooza event with about 400–500 attendees, a Jeep event with about 100 participants, and upcoming free events including a fishing expo on Aug. 1. The board approved a contract for the Justice Lake Restoration Project at Two Mile County Park and ratified a Campspot hosting contract. Commissioner Heffernan also noted an upcoming $2.8 million runway rehabilitation project at the county airport to be completed by IA Constructions and largely funded with federal dollars.

County administration actions included approval of Resolution 18-2026 (LERTA) and authorization of a contract with 4CA Consulting & Reconstruction LLC related to the Public Defender’s Office. Several personnel actions (Attachment E) — hires, promotions, rehires, separations and rate adjustments across multiple departments including Prison, Children & Youth, Airport and Parks — were approved following the human-resources presentation.

During public comment, Kari Worst urged the commissioners to consider amending the county SALDO to add regulations for data centers and noted Scrubgrass Township will vote next week on a related ordinance. Ashley Zaccari of the Venango Chamber described the Heart and Soul Project, cited broad resident engagement and promoted the upcoming Oil Heritage Festival events. The board welcomed Regina Meador as the new administrative assistant and thanked Laura O'Neil for her service.

The meeting adjourned at 5:05 p.m. on a motion by Commissioner Bryan, seconded by Commissioner Heffernan. The next public meeting is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Aug. 11, 2026, in Room 100 of the Courthouse Annex.