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County may aid police academy with Act 13 funds

The Lycoming County commissioners are considering using impact fee money to help fund the Mansfield Police Academy, Commissioner Tony Mussare said on Tuesday.

The academy has been the training grounds for many county residents over the years, but the county has never contributed to the program, he said. He added he would like to hear from community members about whether they feel this is an initiative worth spending public dollars on.

Mussare said the commissioners will meet with the academy’s director, Scott Henry, on Monday to discuss the details of helping fund the academy. He said Bradford and Tioga counties are contributing impact fees to the academy, so Lycoming County might follow suit.

Mussare said he expects the potential contribution to be relatively “nominal.” He said that getting county funds doesn’t mean students get a free ride. A full-time student pays just over $5,000 for the six-month training.

“It’s at a cost to them as well. It’s not for free,” Mussare said.

Henry said the funds he is seeking will help the academy pay for expenses such as weapons used in training and other equipment. He said his goal is to make sure those costs “are not transferred upon the student.”

“In the old days, you got paid to go into the academy. Now they don’t do that,” he said, adding academy tuition statewide ranges from Mansfield’s cost of about $5,000 to nearly $9,000.

Henry said he has reached out to at least five counties so far, and has received contributions or pledges from Mansfield’s home county of Tioga as well as neighboring Bradford County.

He said he looks forward to meeting with Mussare and his cohorts to see what, if anything, Lycoming County is willing to offer.

“Lycoming has produced the most kids into our program, and a lot of our kids are now working in Lycoming County,” Henry said. “We’ve put some excellent kids out into our communities and they’re doing a fine job. Our goal is to keep that up.”

In other business, the commissioners will consider taking action on the following:

• Professional service agreement with Eaton Corp. in the amount of $95,518 to service uninterruptible power supplies at the 911 Center for three years. The funds are budgeted and eligible for reimbursement through 911 funds.

• Purchase of a new 2018 Volvo hydraulic excavator with accessories for $366,070 to replace a 2005 excavator that suffered catastrophic pump failure, and an engine rebuild within a 2009 Caterpillar D8T tractor for $61,669. Expenses will be paid with Resource Management Services revenue.

Along with Mussare, commissioners Jack McKernan and Rick Mirabito were present. The next meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday in Executive Plaza.

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