PHOTO PROVIDED Voter Registrar Maria Boileau talks to the Clinton County Commissioners about an America250PA mobile unit which will make a pit stop in the county during Labor Day weekend.

PHOTO PROVIDED
Clinton County Commissioners, from left, Angela Harding, Jim Russo and Jeff Snyder, and Chief Clerk Desiree Myers are seen during Thursday’s voting session.

LOCK HAVEN — A Mobile Unit from America250PA will make a pitstop in Clinton County during Labor Day Weekend.

During the Clinton County Board of Commissioners voting session, Voter Registrar Maria Boileau offered a brief rundown of the unit and what people can expect.

Boileau said the mobile unit will be parked in the Clinton County Courthouse parking lot during the Lock Haven Regatta on Saturday, Aug. 30, and Sunday, Aug. 31, from 12 to 5 p.m. each day.

“It’s an interactive unit. They’re going to give away prizes (and) it’s a great opportunity to get ready for America’s 250th celebration,” she said. “We’re really excited.”

Boileau added the unit is looking for volunteers to assist on both days. Those interested can visit the county’s website — www.clintoncountypa.gov — to sign up.

ELECTION GRANTS

Commissioners approved applying for two election-related grants during the voting session on Thursday morning.

Prior to the approval on Thursday morning, the board heard from Boileau about the grants at a work session on Monday.

The first approved was an Election Integrity Grant for $116,035.39. According to Boileau, this funding is used to pay pollworkers, print ballots and security preparation, transportation and storage of the county’s voting apparatus.

The second grant is new and related to the redesign of envelopes for provisional ballots rolled out by the Department of State last month.

The county will apply for $500 to assist in the printing of these ballots. Boileau said at Monday’s work session the total cost to replace the envelopes would be $750.

She added the election integrity grant could potentially cover the remaining $250.

Boileau said the old envelopes — which total roughly 1,000 — are boxed up and ready to be destroyed.

The decision made in early July by Commonwealth election officials will see a redesign of the provisional envelopes which should lead to fewer ballot rejections due to technical errors.

According to information published by Spotlight PA, provisional ballots are meant to be a fail-safe for voters at the polls, to be used when there are questions about eligibility or whether someone has already voted. Each one is placed in a separate envelope, giving election officials a chance to verify that the ballot should be counted before it is added to the tally.

These ballots, however, can be rejected due to technical reasons such as a missing voter signature on the envelope.

Spotlight PA reported the redesign is “meant to make that less likely, and follows a similar redesign of the return envelopes for mail ballots.” Those envelopes were redesigned in 2023.

Though the changes in mail in ballots was required, this change is not, according to Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt.

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

The board unanimously approved a professional services contract between the county and Mackin Engineering for updates to its Comprehensive Plan and Open Space and Greenways Plan at a cost of $149,730. The approval is contingent on review of the agreement by the county’s solicitor.

At Monday’s work session, Planner/Engineer Steve Gibson offered further information about the work Mackin will do.

Gibson said the county’s plan was last updated in 2014 and should be updated every 10 years.

He noted at the time the county has seen a lot of changes in the last decade, particularly related to the COVID-19 Pandemic and a decline in Marcellus Shale PA.

The update will involve participation from local stakeholders and community members and should begin in September.

The Open Space and Greenways Plan was last completed 15 years ago and focuses on the county’s recreation facilities, parks, trails, water trails and plans for future development.

This plan will also begin its update in September.

Gibson added the majority of the cost for Mackin’s services will be paid for through a MAPP grant from the Department of Economic Development (DCED) and a C2P2 Planning grant from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR).

In other business, the board:

— Approved the 2025-2030 Title IV-D Cooperative Agreement between the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, the board and Clinton County Courts for federal reimbursement of two-thirds of the county’s expenses related to the operation of the Child Support Program within the county’s domestic relations office.

— Approved a one-year renewal with Real Vision Software for annual software support services at a cost of $2,550.

— Hired Quinlynn McCann as resource care coordinator for Children and Youth Services, effective Aug. 21 at a salary of $40,518 annually.

— Hired Grace LeGars as agricultural resource conservationist at the conservation district, effective Aug. 18, at a salary of $42,247 annually.