Meeting roundup
Date: Dec. 17
Action
• The board amended its lease with Great Lakes Energy Partners, predecessor in title to Range Resources Appalachia, to add an approximately seven-acre tract within Cross Creek County Park that was found through additional title searches. Range will pay the county between $7,000 and $8,000 per acre, plus royalties.
• At the request of the Children and Youth Services agency, the commissioners agreed to have attorneys B. Tennille Newsome-Boyles and Rene Colbert represent the agency in juvenile court through June 30 at a cost of $50 per hour.
• The board agreed to advertise for proposals for a water treatment program for the county campus and the health center. Also on behalf of the health center, the commissioners agreed to purchase $22,329 worth of beds and accessories, lifts and scales from the center’s operating budget under a contract that does not require bidding.
• In items of business related to the county jail, the commissioners entered into an agreement with Washington Physician Hospital Organization Inc. at a total yearly cost of $80,220 for on-site primary care and outpatient services. At a salary board meeting following the commissioners’ meeting, Controller Michael Namie joined the commissioners in creating the position of forensic therapist at the jail at a salary of $43,242 and abolished the position of correctional counselor, which had paid an identical amount.
• At the request of the coroner, pathologists under contract will be paid $1,150 per autopsy, up from $950; a typist will receive $225 per autopsy, up from $200, and $75 per report, up from $60; deputy coroners’ investigations and removal of a body will now cost $225 per investigation, up from $200.
Appointments: Dr. Marie J. Repepi, Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; Jose Taracido, Conservation District.
Announcement: All county offices will be closed New Year’s Day.
Next meetings: The annual salary board reorganization meeting is scheduled for 2 p.m. Jan. 4, and the commissioners will meet at 10 a.m. Jan. 7. Both will convene in the public meeting room of the Courthouse Square Office Building.
Date: Dec. 15
Action
• Supervisors approved a balanced 2016 general fund and special fund budget, with expenditures of $13,380,345. A 2015 fund balance of $2 million is estimated, with $1,166,195 being used to balance the 2016 budget. Of this amount, $500,000 has been earmarked and will be transferred to the building construction fund in anticipation of planning for a new municipal building complex. Total revenues are projected to increase by more than 6 percent, attributed to moderate increases in real estate taxes, realty transfers, earned income taxes, gas impact and cable franchise fees, and building permit revenue.
In addition to the tax reductions of one-half mill in 2013 and one mill in 2015, this will be the 23rd consecutive year of no tax increase in the township.
Officials are planning for a number of projects in 2016, including completion of a new comprehensive plan, infrastructure expansion, revisions to the zoning ordinance and a strategic facilities building plan.
• The board also approved the findings of fact and conclusions of law relative to the conditional-use decision of the board on Nov. 24 to permit fresh-water corrals to be used for the Martin and Jeffries well pads. The corrals will provide additional fresh water capacity for fracking operations by Range Resources.
Next meeting: 7 p.m. Jan. 4 at the township municipal building.