×

County prepares for arrival of COVID vaccine

LOCK HAVEN — As local residents await their turn to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, they can be assured the county has been working with UPMC and Geisinger on a vaccination schedule and will be prepared to put shots in arms when the vaccine arrives.

Clinton County Commissioner Angela Harding reported on a recent meeting of the Community Coalition, which was formed last year and has been monitoring COVID-19 in the county, at Thursday’s meeting of the commissioners.

Harding said the county has been working hard to get the information on when vaccines will be available for distribution.

Commissioner Jeff Snyder said he expected a call on Thursday with state Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine, for more information on a schedule.

Meanwhile, Harding emphasized the need for the community to continue wearing masks and following other guidelines.

In other business Thursday, the commissioners:

— Approved an inmate housing agreement with Sullivan County, effective Jan. 8, at a rate of $70 per inmate per day.

Clinton County Correctional Facility Warden Angela Hoover said this is a new three-year-contract to house Sullivan County inmates in Clinton County due to overcrowding in Sullivan County. Incoming inmates are normally tested for COVID-19 before they leave Sullivan County, she said. “If not they will be tested right away when they get here,” she continued, noting Clinton County has rapid testing capabilities.

— Approved joining a Co-Stars group to procure electricity supply rates to be effective July 1, 2022. County Clerk Jann Meyers said this is a group effort with state agencies to obtain bids on electricity.

— Approved the owner county agreement for the Central Counties Youth Detention Center at an annual Clinton County allocation of $107,748 for the period of Jan. 1, 2021 through Dec. 31, 2021, to be paid in quarterly installments of $26,937.

Adult Probation Director Jason Foltz noted that the cost for keeping youth at the center last year was down about $30,000 due to COVID-19. He said Clinton County used the facility only nine days in 2020.

— Approved a utility relocation agreement with PPL to move utility lines prior to the replacement of the bridge deck on the Peale Avenue bridge in Mill Hall. The county’s cost is $73,419. PennDOT is expected to begin the bridge work soon, according to county planner Katie deSilva.

In connection with the bridge project, the commissioners approved an extension of the reimbursement agreement until June 30, 2022. deSilva said the extension was suggested by PennDOT.

— Appointed Jack Peters as Flemington Borough representative to the Clinton County Sewer Authority for a three-year term expiring Dec. 23, 2023, and Christina Trayes to the Ross Library Board for a three year term expiring Jan. 1, 2024.

— Approved the transfer of Hope Oishi from part-time election assistant to part-time clerical assistant in the commissioners office effective Jan. 4, 2021 at an hourly rate of $12 per hour not to exceed 1,000 hours a year.

— Hired Conrad Schlesinger as a tipstave in the Court of Common Pleas, effective Jan. 13, 2021, at the rate of $75 a day.

The commissioners noted they will continue to meet bi-weekly on Monday at 9 a.m. for work sessions and Thursday at 10 a.m. for voting meetings. All meetings will be held virtually and streamed live on Facebook until further notice. The next work session is Monday, Jan. 25 at 9 a.m. and the next voting meeting is a night meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 28.

All Clinton County offices will be closed Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

Starting at $3.69/week.

Subscribe Today