The May 1 meeting of the Potter County commissioners focused on two proclamations and important topics for the board.
During the regular session, the board proclaimed May as both Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month and also Mental Health Awareness Month.
Members of God’s Country Chapter of the the Alliance of Bikers Aimed Toward Education requested the Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month proclamation. As the weather warms, motorcycles become more common sites on the road, said Chapter representative Gary McKay. The group is spreading the word about not being a distracted driver and safety issues, such as grass clippings on the road being a slip hazard.
The numbers for motorcyclists are increasing, and accidents are down, which is a positive sign, McKay said. He asked if the county could pass an ordinance requiring property owners to keep debris off the roads.
Commissioner Nancy Grupp noted that the county doesn’t own any roads. The commissioners can pass the word to PennDOT and continue to spread the word.
Thomas Patterson and Kayla Wright from the Human Services Department asked for the Mental Health Awareness Month proclamation and for the county to help spread the word about the opportunities available for people with mental health issues, the crisis number and other resources that are available.
In other business, the commissioners tabled the bid for the Market Village project on the Courthouse Square in Coudersport. The board extended the bid period when no bids were received by the original bid closing date in April. This time, the project received one bid for site work, $98,317.50 from Benson Construction. According to the landscape architect, that was higher than projected costs. No bids were received for the electric work.
In conversations with the Pa. Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the architect said the county can now solicit bids by phone and explain the situation in a letter to DCNR.
Also, the county is working on an employee appreciation policy to recognize employees for milestone years of service, said commissioners.During the commissioner’s reports, Commissioner Paul Heimel said the Pa. Sate Land Tax Fairness Coalition kicks off the push to persuade legislators that a portion of lumber sales and energy development on state forest and park lands should go to counties, townships and boroughs, and school districts.
In 2024, Pennsylvania received $30 million in timber sales and much more in shale gas leases, Heimel said.
“When the state cashes in, our group firmly believes that we deserve a share because we’re hosting it,” Heimel said. “As the haggling over the budget heats up, we’re a little optimistic. We think we have a great case to make.”
Commissioner Robert Rossman reported that he and Mike Pepper, director of Veterans Affairs, are working with UPMC Cole to have Veterans Affairs recognize Cole as an urgent care facility. That action would allow local veterans to have medical testing and routine care handled locally instead of requiring hours of travel. The effort, he said, has hit a roadblock and is going to require action from Congress. The next step is to meet with federal and state partners to discuss the issue.
Lastly, commissioner Nancy Grupp wanted to alert residents that $4 million in funding for the PA Food Bank and local food banks is in jeopardy of being cut substantially or totally. She asked local residents to engage in a letter campaign to state Rep. Martin Causer, Senator Cris Dush and Gov. Josh Shapiro to ask that line item remain at $4 million or be increased.
