WILLIAMSPORT – The Lycoming County commissioners approved flood wall purchases, personnel actions and new equipment for the county landfill during their Tuesday meeting.
The commissioners approved a $189,500 flood wall to be installed outside District Magistrate Judge William Solomon’s new building at 2107 Lycoming Creek Road, Williamsport.
The flood wall includes a footing, and a garage foundation wall, with footing and a concrete floor slab.
This vote was tabled last week so the county commissioners could look into alternatives to a concrete wall that would be less expensive. The building purchase was approved in 2019. During the purchasing process, it was discovered that the building was in the flood zone and previously had been flooded.
To pass inspection requirements a flood wall would need to be installed.
“If we didn’t have a wall, we wouldn’t be able to get an engineer to approve it,” said Commissioner Tony Mussare, adding that a portable wall, which is what they looked into after tabling the vote last week, would not offer the proper support for the building.
The commissioners were aware of flood damage to the building early in the purchasing process and, according to Commissioner Rick Mirabito, “we could have gotten out of it.”
He said that given the requirements for where the new magistrate’s office was required to be located, it was difficult to find another option that was within the county’s budget.
The building initially was purchased for $245,000.
Commissioner Scott Metzger, who was elected commissioner after the original purchase decision was made, opted to also continue with the building purchase if the new building and renovations could stay within the budget goal of $650,000, which, he said, they have been able to do so far.
Since the purchase of the building security renovations, new doors and other improvements have been made.
The current magistrate building, which is held by District Judge William Solomon, has been rented by the county for over 40 years. Mirabito said the county wanted to buy a building that could support a district judge for the next 100 years.
Here is a full list of the additional action items at the meeting:
PERSONNEL ACTIONS
Approve the following personnel action(s):
- Controller, Matthew J. Tierney, Full-Time, General Accountant, Paygrade 9, $42,601.69. Effective 3/22/21.
- District Attorney-Gabriella L. Wise, Part-Time Reclassification, Clerk III, Paygrade 4, $15.69/ Hourly. Not to exceed 1000 hours annually. Effective 3/21/21
- Planning- Christine R. Gartelman, Part-Time Reclassification, Clerk III, Paygrade 4, $13.09/Hourly. Not to exceed 1000 hours annually. Effective 3/21/21.
SALARY BOARD ACTIONS
Approve update to the following salary schedule(s): PASS 3-0
- Commissioners – Remove one (1 ) PT Clerk I paygrade 2 position. Effective immediately.
- Planning – Reclassify one (1) PT Clerk (II) paygrades 2/3 position to a PT Clerk III, paygrade 4. Effective March 21, 2021.
- District Attorney – Reclassify one (1) PT Clerk I paygrade 2 position to a PT Clerk III, paygrade 4. Effective March 21, 2021.
ACTION ITEMS
Vote on the purchase of flags from Flag Zone LLC in the amount of $11,138.40. 2021 budgeted item. PASS 3-0
- Placing the flag for veterans at various Lycoming County cemeteries.
Vote on Agreement with Montgomery Water Authority in the amount of $574,200. 2021 budgeted item. PASS 3-0
- This is regarding the Timberland Industrial Park for the purchase of the property. The county needs to add some infrastructure to the property including a water tank. Planning to have it completed by the end of the year.
Vote on Second Amendment to Agreement with ATC Group Services dba BCM Engineers. PASS 3-0
- Design and engineering of the RiverWalk trail. This is a one-year extension of the project.
Vote on Subrecipient Monitoring Agreement with Greater Lycoming Habitat for Humanity in the amount of $55,000. PASS 3-0
- Construction of a single family home on Diamond Street and is funded through PHARE Funds.
Vote on Subrecipient Monitoring Contract with YWCA Northcentral PA in the amount of $70,000. PASS 3-0
- This is funded with PHARE funds for support for the Liberty House which is emergency housing for women in the community.
Vote on the purchase of a 2021 Caterpillar D4 Dozer in the amount of $175,271. 2021 budgeted item. PASS 3-0
- This will be used at the Lycoming County Landfill.
Vote on Agreement with Cintas Uniform. 2021 budgeted item. PASS 3-0
- An original contract signed in 2014. This is a new 5-year contract extension with no cost increases.
Vote on the purchase of a bush hog mower attachment in the amount of $27,349.30. 2021 budgeted item.
- Purchased through the Fourth Well Purchasing Program. This is used on over 900 acres of land owned by the county.
The next commissioners meeting will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday March 30 in the Commissioner’s Briefing Room, 1st Floor, Executive Plaza, 330 Pine St., Williamsport.
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