SUN-GAZETTE FILE PHOTO A fire truck from Citizens Hose Fire Co., one of the departments to receive grants from Lycoming County’s commissioners.

One-time grants of $20,000 have been approved by the Lycoming County Commissioners for each of 28 volunteer fire companies in the county.

The $560,000 comes from Act 13 monies which are derived from impact fees assessed from gas companies with natural gas wells in the county.

During the pandemic, volunteer fire companies have not been able to pursue their traditional means of raising funds such as through carnivals or chicken dinners, and they have not been eligible, in many cases, for COVID-related federal funds.

“We know that part of the Act 13 legislation is to bolster our public safety and volunteer fire companies, so it’s a good use of the money,” said Commissioner Rick Mirabito at their most recent meeting.

There is about $22 million in the county’s Act 13 monies available, according to Commissioner Tony Mussare. Some of that is allocated and restricted..

“I think the public needs to understand that we area stewards of the finances of this county. Act 13 was a blessing that came upon us. We have so many requests during the course of the year that we could spend that in two weeks,” Mussare said.

One of the reasons the commissioners decided to allocate the money to the volunteer fire companies was the generational impact of their work.

“We were lost as to how are we going to allocate this, but when you mention the generational impacts to our community, that made us think in a different way,” Mussare told the members of the firefighter community at the meeting.

The following volunteer fire companies received the one-time allocations: Woodward Township, Independent Hose, South Williamsport Fire Department, Nippenose Valley, Nisbet, DuBoistown, Clinton Township, Montgomery, Old Lycoming Township, Hepburn Township, Trout Run, Ralston, Loyalsock Township, Willing Hand Hose Company, Washington Township, Eldred Township, Muncy Township, Hughesville, Plunketts Creek Township, Picture Rocks, Lairdsville Community, Waterville, Antes Fort, Unityville, Brown Township, Muncy Area, Black Forest and Citizens Hose Company.

The commissioners also approved a Grant and Monitoring Agreement with the Loyalsock Volunteer Fire Company Number One which puts $80,000in seed money toward the Susquehanna Mutual Aid Regional Team or SMART concept.

The concept is an agreement between Loyalsock Township and the South Williamsport Borough as well as the two fire companies in those municipalities for mutual aid.

In other actions, the commissioners approved the following agenda items:

An Emergency Watershed Protect Grant and Agreement with Natural Resources Conservation Service for $97,080 for stream bank stabilization projects.

A fiscal year 2022-23 Hazardous Material Response Fund Grant Agreement fo $27,906 for training for public education programs.

Purchase of a drone and accessories for $13,999.

Pay schedule updates for poll workers with respect to training sessions and mileage reimbursements. The pay was increased from $30 up to $40 and the mileage reimbursement rate will correspond to the county’s current rate.

An amendment to an agreement with Petro Choice Holdings, Inc, which provides diesel fuel for vehicles for Resource Management Services. The amendment was due to increased fuel costs.

The next commissioners’ meeting will be at 10 a.m. July 28 in the Commissioners’ Board Room, 1st floor Executive Plaza, 330 Pine St.