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BELLEFONTE -- The Centre County Commissioners honored a long time employee, Joanne Shafer, at a recent board meeting.
Shafer will be stepping down from her role as deputy executive director and recycling coordinator for the Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority at the end of February after 33 years of dedication.
The recognition came as a surprise to Shafer, who was initially attending the meeting to request Mimi Cooper, current assistant recycling coordinator, be appointed to her vacated role.
"I want to personally thank you all on behalf of both me and the authority for all of the commissioners' support over the last 33 and a half years for me," said Shafer.
The Recycling and Refuse Authority has a mission to provide environmentally sound and economically efficient integrated waste management, reduction and recycling services; to work cooperatively with the private sector and to provide educational services with the intent of enhancing the quality of life in Centre County.
Thanks to the authority, residents of Centre County have multiple avenues to recycle -- there are over 28,000 curbside residents, 125 drop-off recycling bins and over 1,000 commercial establishments throughout the county.
Shafer noted the delegation agreement the authority has with the commissioners is the longest standing delegation agreement in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Shafer will be stepping down from her role on February 29, and Cooper will be taking up Shafer's role on March 1.
In other news the board:
-- Approved the American Institute of Architects (AIA) contracts for the Centre Crest Building Renovation for the four Prime Contractors; G.M. McCrossin, Inc. for general trades, Ainsworth-Enguity for both plumbing and HVAC and Hallstrom-Clark Electric for electrical.
-- Approved letters of support for both the Centre Kitchen Collective to apply for phase 1 of the Rural Development Business Grant and for the Centre Area Transportation Authority's (CATA) 2024 Rebuilding America Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) planning grant application for a systemwide Transit Stop Safety and ADA Accessibility Study
The commissioners meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 5, and the Salary Board/Board of Commissioners meeting scheduled for Thursday, March 7, have both been canceled.