Trending
Lycoming County Commissioner Rick Mirabito is pushing to make more COVID-19 testing available locally.
At Tuesday's commissioners' meeting he called for passing a resolution early next year for funding the tests, encouraging people to wear masks while in public and putting in to practice social distancing.
"I think we as a county need to step up our game," he said.
He noted a recent report revealing Williamsport with the nineteenth highest COVID-19 infection rate in the nation.
He said it might be prudent to consider having county residents who travel outside the county to be tested when they return.
A post-holiday surge in numbers of COVID-19 infections is likely to occur, he added.
Commissioner Scott Metzger noted that the virus must be taken seriously.
The good news, he said, is that vaccines are being rolled out.
"It's been a long year," Commissioner Tony Mussare said. "I think everyone from a county perspective has done a good job."
In other matters, commissioners approved the 2021 county workers compensation premium for $404,039, an increase of $29,332 from this year.
It was noted that the increase is due in part to higher employee wages.
Commissioners approved $15,000 for the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank.
The money is to come from the county's allocation of federal CARES dollars.
Commissioners approved an amendment to an agreement with David A. Smith Printing, Inc. for services to extend through next year.
The Harrisburg company does printing of mail-in ballots and other work for Voter Services.
Commissioners approved salary and wage hikes for the sheriff and tax collectors.
The sheriff will earn $70,545 in 2021 with wage increases each year reaching $74,863 by 2025.
The position is up for re-election in 2021.
Tax collectors will earn $3 per bill beginning in 2022 with an increase of $3.25 per bill beginning in 2024.
Commissioners approved an agreement with Delta Development Group, Inc. for planning services in 2021.
Also at the meeting, commissioners:
• Approved an extension of the county's COVID-19 Disaster Declaration to allow the county to continue to be eligible for emergency government funding.
• Approved the reappointments of Larry Fry and Marilyn Ely to two-year terms with the Lycoming County Land Preservation Board and William J. Klein and Romuald Andraka to five-year terms with the county zoning hearing board.
• Approved the appointment of Jason Bogle to a three-year term on the Lycoming County Planning Commission and the reappointment of Carl Nolan to one-year extension to his existing term on the same board.