PHOTO PROVIDED Clinton County Board of Commissioners, from left, Angela Harding, Chair Jim Russo and Jeff Snyder, and Chief Clerk Desiree Myers, are pictured during Thursday’s board meeting.

PHOTO PROVIDED
Clinton County Sheriff Kerry Stover speaks during the board of commissioners’ meeting on Thursday, requesting it table an agreement between the county and Vetforce, Inc. for security assistance at county government buildings.

LOCK HAVEN — The Clinton County Board of Commissioners approved a contract between the county and Vetforce, Inc. for assistance in providing security at the Piper Building and other facilities within county government.

The agreement would be effective March 10, 2025 to March 9, 2027 at a cost of $62,400.

Chief Clerk Desiree Myers told The Express the contract would enable the county to utilize Vetforce, Inc. to staff any building within county government including the Piper building, facilities in downtown Lock Haven and the district magistrates.

Prior to approval, Sheriff Kerry Stover requested the board table the agreement until he could hold more discussions surrounding staffing options.

Stover acknowledged he was involved in discussions to an extent, noting it was due to deputies positions not being completely filled. He explained he was short-staffed by roughly six deputies — with one deployed by the National Guard, two retirements, a deputy returning to a different position within the county and another seeking employment elsewhere.

“You asked me what my options were and I had hoped we would have a sit down talk about this. This went very fast. I heard this was on the agenda on a Monday and here we are to the vote,” Stover said. “Last Thursday I asked for some answers to things, or could we speak and I still haven’t had the chance to sit down with you.”

Stover asked the board to table the agreement and discuss other options, including the addition of two more deputies on his staff.

He acknowledged his biggest hurdle is getting new deputies certified by the state, noting it takes five months to do so.

“The state tells me when the deputies are assigned to each academy. So my short staffing will not be over quickly as they only run three academies a year,” he said. “And so we can’t just lose every untrained deputy at once to the academy.”

Stover said he’s close to full staffing again, but that not all deputies will immediately have their certification. He added deputies are able to conduct their jobs until the certification.

“I feel we’re going a little fast. I’m close to being able to staff it, even though they aren’t fully state certified deputies,” he said. “I just don’t want to have Vetforce in here for three months and then we staff it and then next spring we have to go back to Vetforce again.”

Commissioner Angela Harding said discussions about staffing and security at each building have been ongoing for roughly 6 months.

“I think something that’s important to understand is that this in no way is trying to take away from the sheriff’s department, no jobs are being eliminated, we can continue to have discussions,” Harding said. “The contract is a fix to an issue that’s going on right now and until you get your deputies certified… this contract is sort of a way to fill that void. With a 30 day notice either party can cancel the contract.”

Harding further noted she and the rest of the board are willing to continue to discuss solutions to assist the sheriff’s department, but that the current need was important to fill.

“I’m very open to continuing the conversations… but we have an urgent need we have to have filled,” she said. “We can’t delay having the security the buildings and the staff need at this moment.”

Board Chair Jim Russo and Commissioner Jeff Snyder echoed these statements.

Russo noted the board put out a public Request for Proposal for this position and received only one bid from Vetforce, Inc.

“We’re trying to help you. This contract with them, they’re a subcontractor, we can terminate it,” he said. “If you start staffing it and the numbers work we can terminate Vetforce.”

Harding noted the sheriff’s department has been able to recruit deputies from Vetforce, Inc.

“We can also see this as a pathway for future deputies and future law enforcement for your department,” she said.

Snyder said he felt it best to utilize Vetforce, Inc. while Stover works to get his staff up to full complement.

“As you’ve said, circumstances beyond your control or our control, you’re having trouble just as they are at the prison to get to full complement,” he said. “That’s another reason we’re looking at this, to move in this direction until you’re at full complement.”

“It doesn’t make sense to hire more deputies when we’re struggling to get the full complement you have now. This is an option until we continue to work with you… we’ll continue to have discussions,” he continued.

Stover said an increase in deputies and a potential increase in pay for the current staff would be a way to help recruit quality candidates and retain his current staff, which he hopes can be considered moving forward.

Following discussion, the board unanimously approved the contract.