By SARAH PAEZ

spaez@lockhaven.com

LOCK HAVEN — Clinton County will continue to use Love Disposal, Inc. as its waste management provider for the next three years.

Love Disposal and J. J. Peters Disposal submitted bids for county garbage disposal services. Love’s bid will cost the county an average of $11,389 a year, or around $950 a month. J. J. Peters’ bid would have run the county around $15,474 a year, or $1,300 a month.

“It would appear that Love Disposal has the least expensive agreement,” said Commissioner Jeff Snyder Thursday.

Love’s waste management will serve all county buildings, including the Piper Blue Building and the 9-1-1 center. Once the Conservation District property on Route 64 closes, Love’s will no longer collect there.

This year, the county paid around $750 a month for garbage disposal services, but that did not include the Piper Blue Building or the 9-1-1 center. Commissioners thought the price increase with the added buildings was fair.

“We won’t have to switch out our containers,” said Commissioner Pete Smeltz.

Also Thursday, commissioners accepted a bid proposal from Jersey Shore State Bank for a Tax Revenue Anticipation Note (TRAN).

TRANs are commonly used by county governments for the periods of the year when cash flows are low because the county has not yet collected property taxes.

With the approval of the TRAN resolution, commissioners can borrow up to $2 million in 2018 when they need it, knowing that once revenue from property taxes comes in, they can pay off the balance. They must pay it off before the end of the calendar year.

JSSB had the lowest interest rate of all TRAN bidders, at 1.28 percent. First National Bank and M & T Bank also put in bids.

The county must file the agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. They hope to close on it Jan. 11.

Commissioner Paul Conklin asked how the commissioners would decide how much money to draw from JSSB.

Both Smeltz and Snyder said they would only withdraw what they need to get through the low-revenue period. Commissioners will meet in February to assess the county’s financial needs regarding the TRAN.

Snyder suggested compiling data on the county’s TRANs–including how much commissioners borrowed and when–from the last five years in order to better assist future commissioners.

In personnel matters, the commissioners promoted four county employees Thursday.

Michael Young was promoted from lieutenant to captain at the county prison, making $52,968 annually. He has 13 years of experience and is receiving a 5 percent increase in salary.

Joshua McGill and Garrett Strouse were promoted from dispatchers to 9-1-1 shift supervisors at the 9-1-1 center, making $46,833 and $31,354 annually, respectively. McGill has 16 1/2 years of experience, meaning he received a 5 percent salary bump with his promotion. Strouse, on the other hand, has two years of experience.

Nicholas Gentzyel was promoted from part-time maintenance custodian to full-time maintenance worker in the Maintenance Department, making $23,397 annually.

Charles Shoemaker, hired as a part-time county detective, will make $27 an hour. His position is funded by the STOP Violence Against Women Formula grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to help local communities combat violent crimes against women.

Commissioners also reappointed Dan Harger to represent the Clinton County Economic Partnership and appointed Councilman Richard Conklin to represent the City of Lock Haven on the county sewer authority for three-year terms, expiring Dec. 31, 2020.

Commissioners took the opportunity Thursday to reflect on the year coming to a close and look ahead to the new year.

“I look forward to this year,” said Conklin. “There’s some good things happening in the county.”

He lauded the renovations at the Lock Haven First Quality plant, which will create an estimated 185 new jobs, and the anticipated opening of Renovo Energy LLC in spring 2018.

The new year also brings changes for the county government.

On Jan. 14, the Management Information Systems Department will move to the Piper Blue Building. In mid-February, both the Grove Street and Garden Building Children and Youth Services will move to the Piper Blue Building.

Also in January, Commissioner Jeff Snyder will undergo a serious spinal surgery and may be out for several weeks.

“We pray and hope that it all goes well for you next week,” said Smeltz.