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BELLEFONTE -- The Centre County Board of Commissioners adopted an ordinance implementing a $5 local vehicle registration fee and discussed several contracts during its Tuesday, Nov. 10, meeting.
The board adopted Ordinance 3 of 2026, which allows the county to impose a $5 fee on each nonexempt vehicle registered to an address within Centre County.
Chair Commissioner Mark Higgins discussed the financial challenges municipalities face when maintaining roads and bridges.
"One of our roadmasters mentioned that the problem for anything except our largest municipalities is that roads and bridges are incredibly expensive," Higgins said.
The commissioners also approved a one-day contract with Calvary Harvest Fields to provide security for a concert scheduled for Nov. 21. The agreement calls for two sheriff’s deputies to be present from 4:30 to 10 p.m., with the possibility of extending their shifts if needed. Calvary Harvest Fields will pay $85 per hour per deputy.
A proposed contract with US Imaging Inc. for Recorder of Deeds services was moved to next week’s consent agenda. Recorder of Deeds Joseph Davidson explained that the agreement would replace the county’s current contract, which expires Dec. 31.
"We are currently paying 4 cents a document and the new contract will be 3.5 cents per document," Davidson said.
The board also discussed two capital project proposals involving the replacement of three water softener control heads at the Centre County Correctional Facility. The proposals, which include $14,305 for the replacement equipment and up to $9,000 for county staff to purchase and install materials, were added to next week’s consent agenda.
During the discussion, Commissioner Steven G. Dershem asked, "How does it soften water?"
Several Human Services contract items were also moved to next week’s consent agenda. The items included contract renewals for services involving children and youth, mental health, intellectual disabilities, early intervention and drug and alcohol programs.
"We have a lot of good partners with human services in this list," Higgins said.
The board also acknowledged the expiration of Connie Cousins’ term on the Aging Advisory Board, which ends Nov. 13.
The commissioners announced that their Nov. 24 meeting had been canceled to allow board members to attend the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania Fall Conference.