Blair County commissioners approve new authority, accept prison study and OK multiple contracts and grants
February 23, 2025 | Blair County, Pennsylvania
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Blair County commissioners on Feb. 13 approved an ordinance to organize the Blair County Trail, Park and Recreation Authority under the Municipality Authorities Act of 1945, accepted a prison feasibility study and approved a package of contracts, grant actions and budget moves affecting county services.
The commissioners voted to advertise the ordinance to create the new authority and later approved a motion to accept a feasibility study on the county prison. Both motions passed by voice vote during the meeting; individual roll-call tallies were not recorded in the public transcript.
Why it matters: forming an authority under the Municipality Authorities Act of 1945 begins a legal process to create a separate entity that can plan, acquire and manage park and trail projects on behalf of the county. Accepting the prison feasibility study moves that project from study into whatever next steps the commissioners and staff determine, including any follow-up presentations or contract solicitations.
Other approved items included procurement and contracting actions for county operations:
- The board approved rejection and re-bidding of bids for milk products and for food and non-food items for the Blair County Prison to re-run procurements after the initial bids received.
- The commissioners approved advertising for printing of election ballots ahead of upcoming elections.
- A purchase-under-threshold agreement with Craig Fencing LLC was approved for repair of gate controls at the county 911 Center parking lot in the amount of $1,000.
- The board approved a three-year elevator inspection contract with Commercial Technical Services Inc. covering the courthouse and the prison for the period Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2027, in a total amount of $4,500.
- An agreement with the Fort Roberdeau Foundation to support that site’s general operations and fundraising projects was approved.
Grants, grant extensions and budget adjustments received approval:
- The county will submit a request to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) to extend the three-year expenditure rule for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) contract number 82572 from Feb. 6, 2025, to Dec. 31, 2025.
- The board approved a CDBG budget revision reallocating $6,042.52 from the 2021 Washington Avenue demolition and clearing project in Tyrone Borough to the borough’s owner-occupied housing rehabilitation activity so the funds can be expended rather than returned.
- The county approved submission of a financial status report to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) for the Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) for federal fiscal year 2024 in the amount of $61,966 (period Oct. 1, 2023–Sept. 30, 2024).
Social services and youth services contracts were renewed:
- The board approved a FY 2024–25 renewal contract between the county (on behalf of the Blair County Department of Social Services) and Central PA Behavioral Health Collaborative doing business as Blair Health Choices for mental-health services in a total amount of $580,000, funded through the Human Services Block Grant.
- A FY 2024–25 renewal contract with Child Advocates of Blair County for mental-health and intensive behavior coaching services for teachers and children was approved with a maximum total of $65,000 (funding: Human Services Block Grant/Human Services Development Fund).
- The county approved a FY 2023–24 financial statement for funds expended under the juvenile services grant totaling $146,839 and a related grant agreement between Blair County Juvenile Probation and the Pennsylvania Juvenile Court Judges’ Commission for the period July 1, 2024–June 30, 2025, in the same amount.
Child welfare agreements and legal services:
- Blair County Children, Youth and Families (CYF) secured a FY 2024–25 renewal purchase-and-service agreement and HIPAA business-associate agreement with Pressley Ridge for foster care and home-study services (contract details not specified in the transcript).
- The board approved an agreement to pay legal services to the law offices of Amy Willett for guardian ad litem services from Dec. 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, at a rate of $2,100 per month and a $200 fee as needed for preparation of any powers of attorney.
- Commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding that includes Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries (listed in the transcript as “Daikon, Lutheran Social Ministries”) and VOCE (formerly Family Design Resources) for Swan Legal Service Initiative paralegal support to CYF for the period July 1, 2024–June 30, 2025.
Administrative and compliance items included approval for completion and submission of Tier II chemical reporting forms for the county 911 Center covering Jan. 1, 2024–Dec. 31, 2024.
Transportation and capital projects:
- The commissioners approved a first amendment to a DCED grant agreement extending the term for a County Road 101 project from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2026. Commissioners noted satisfaction that funds remain available for highway and bridge projects.
Votes at a glance — key motions and outcomes (voice votes unless otherwise noted):
- Approve consent agenda items including warrant lists and two highway budget transfers ($725.99 and $1,318.54): approved.
- Reject and rebid prison milk-product bids: approved.
- Reject and rebid prison food and non-food bids: approved.
- Advertise for printing of election ballots: approved.
- Approve Craig Fencing LLC agreement for 911 Center gate repair, $1,000: approved.
- Approve Commercial Technical Services Inc. elevator inspection contract, $4,500 for 2025–2027: approved.
- Approve agreement with Fort Roberdeau Foundation for operations and fundraising: approved.
- Request DCED extension on CDBG contract #82572 through Dec. 31, 2025: approved.
- Approve CDBG reallocation of $6,042.52 (Washington Ave. demolition → owner-occupied rehab, Tyrone Borough): approved.
- Approve EMPG financial status report submission to PEMA, $61,966 (FFY 2024): approved.
- Approve renewal contract with Central PA Behavioral Health Collaborative (Blair Health Choices), $580,000: approved.
- Approve renewal with Child Advocates of Blair County, $65,000: approved.
- Approve juvenile services grant financial statement and grant agreement with PA Juvenile Court Judges’ Commission, $146,839: approved.
- Approve submission of 2023–24 equitable compensation letter to the Juvenile Judges’ Commission: approved.
- Approve Pressley Ridge renewal and HIPAA BAA for foster care services (terms not specified in transcript): approved.
- Approve payment agreement for guardian ad litem services with Amy Willett law offices ($2,100/month; $200 per power-of-attorney as needed): approved.
- Approve MOU including Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries and VOCE for Swan Legal Service Initiative (paralegal support to CYF): approved.
- Approve first amendment to DCED grant agreement for County Road 101, extending term to June 30, 2026: approved.
- Approve ordinance to organize the Blair County Trail, Park and Recreation Authority under the Municipality Authorities Act of 1945 (advertise to proceed): approved.
- Accept prison feasibility study and recess for presentation by TransSystems: approved.
Meeting context and next steps: most items were routine contract approvals, grant submissions or ministerial budget reallocations; several items (the trail/park authority ordinance and acceptance of the prison feasibility study) represent policy decisions that set up future actions. After the vote the commissioners recessed to receive a presentation of the prison feasibility study from TransSystems.
Following AP style, individual speakers making motions were not always identified by full name in the public transcript; several items were moved and seconded by commissioners and approved by voice vote without recorded roll-call tallies.
The commissioners voted to advertise the ordinance to create the new authority and later approved a motion to accept a feasibility study on the county prison. Both motions passed by voice vote during the meeting; individual roll-call tallies were not recorded in the public transcript.
Why it matters: forming an authority under the Municipality Authorities Act of 1945 begins a legal process to create a separate entity that can plan, acquire and manage park and trail projects on behalf of the county. Accepting the prison feasibility study moves that project from study into whatever next steps the commissioners and staff determine, including any follow-up presentations or contract solicitations.
Other approved items included procurement and contracting actions for county operations:
- The board approved rejection and re-bidding of bids for milk products and for food and non-food items for the Blair County Prison to re-run procurements after the initial bids received.
- The commissioners approved advertising for printing of election ballots ahead of upcoming elections.
- A purchase-under-threshold agreement with Craig Fencing LLC was approved for repair of gate controls at the county 911 Center parking lot in the amount of $1,000.
- The board approved a three-year elevator inspection contract with Commercial Technical Services Inc. covering the courthouse and the prison for the period Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2027, in a total amount of $4,500.
- An agreement with the Fort Roberdeau Foundation to support that site’s general operations and fundraising projects was approved.
Grants, grant extensions and budget adjustments received approval:
- The county will submit a request to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) to extend the three-year expenditure rule for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) contract number 82572 from Feb. 6, 2025, to Dec. 31, 2025.
- The board approved a CDBG budget revision reallocating $6,042.52 from the 2021 Washington Avenue demolition and clearing project in Tyrone Borough to the borough’s owner-occupied housing rehabilitation activity so the funds can be expended rather than returned.
- The county approved submission of a financial status report to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) for the Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) for federal fiscal year 2024 in the amount of $61,966 (period Oct. 1, 2023–Sept. 30, 2024).
Social services and youth services contracts were renewed:
- The board approved a FY 2024–25 renewal contract between the county (on behalf of the Blair County Department of Social Services) and Central PA Behavioral Health Collaborative doing business as Blair Health Choices for mental-health services in a total amount of $580,000, funded through the Human Services Block Grant.
- A FY 2024–25 renewal contract with Child Advocates of Blair County for mental-health and intensive behavior coaching services for teachers and children was approved with a maximum total of $65,000 (funding: Human Services Block Grant/Human Services Development Fund).
- The county approved a FY 2023–24 financial statement for funds expended under the juvenile services grant totaling $146,839 and a related grant agreement between Blair County Juvenile Probation and the Pennsylvania Juvenile Court Judges’ Commission for the period July 1, 2024–June 30, 2025, in the same amount.
Child welfare agreements and legal services:
- Blair County Children, Youth and Families (CYF) secured a FY 2024–25 renewal purchase-and-service agreement and HIPAA business-associate agreement with Pressley Ridge for foster care and home-study services (contract details not specified in the transcript).
- The board approved an agreement to pay legal services to the law offices of Amy Willett for guardian ad litem services from Dec. 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, at a rate of $2,100 per month and a $200 fee as needed for preparation of any powers of attorney.
- Commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding that includes Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries (listed in the transcript as “Daikon, Lutheran Social Ministries”) and VOCE (formerly Family Design Resources) for Swan Legal Service Initiative paralegal support to CYF for the period July 1, 2024–June 30, 2025.
Administrative and compliance items included approval for completion and submission of Tier II chemical reporting forms for the county 911 Center covering Jan. 1, 2024–Dec. 31, 2024.
Transportation and capital projects:
- The commissioners approved a first amendment to a DCED grant agreement extending the term for a County Road 101 project from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2026. Commissioners noted satisfaction that funds remain available for highway and bridge projects.
Votes at a glance — key motions and outcomes (voice votes unless otherwise noted):
- Approve consent agenda items including warrant lists and two highway budget transfers ($725.99 and $1,318.54): approved.
- Reject and rebid prison milk-product bids: approved.
- Reject and rebid prison food and non-food bids: approved.
- Advertise for printing of election ballots: approved.
- Approve Craig Fencing LLC agreement for 911 Center gate repair, $1,000: approved.
- Approve Commercial Technical Services Inc. elevator inspection contract, $4,500 for 2025–2027: approved.
- Approve agreement with Fort Roberdeau Foundation for operations and fundraising: approved.
- Request DCED extension on CDBG contract #82572 through Dec. 31, 2025: approved.
- Approve CDBG reallocation of $6,042.52 (Washington Ave. demolition → owner-occupied rehab, Tyrone Borough): approved.
- Approve EMPG financial status report submission to PEMA, $61,966 (FFY 2024): approved.
- Approve renewal contract with Central PA Behavioral Health Collaborative (Blair Health Choices), $580,000: approved.
- Approve renewal with Child Advocates of Blair County, $65,000: approved.
- Approve juvenile services grant financial statement and grant agreement with PA Juvenile Court Judges’ Commission, $146,839: approved.
- Approve submission of 2023–24 equitable compensation letter to the Juvenile Judges’ Commission: approved.
- Approve Pressley Ridge renewal and HIPAA BAA for foster care services (terms not specified in transcript): approved.
- Approve payment agreement for guardian ad litem services with Amy Willett law offices ($2,100/month; $200 per power-of-attorney as needed): approved.
- Approve MOU including Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries and VOCE for Swan Legal Service Initiative (paralegal support to CYF): approved.
- Approve first amendment to DCED grant agreement for County Road 101, extending term to June 30, 2026: approved.
- Approve ordinance to organize the Blair County Trail, Park and Recreation Authority under the Municipality Authorities Act of 1945 (advertise to proceed): approved.
- Accept prison feasibility study and recess for presentation by TransSystems: approved.
Meeting context and next steps: most items were routine contract approvals, grant submissions or ministerial budget reallocations; several items (the trail/park authority ordinance and acceptance of the prison feasibility study) represent policy decisions that set up future actions. After the vote the commissioners recessed to receive a presentation of the prison feasibility study from TransSystems.
Following AP style, individual speakers making motions were not always identified by full name in the public transcript; several items were moved and seconded by commissioners and approved by voice vote without recorded roll-call tallies.
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