Over $4 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) sewer and water grant awards to five authorities and one borough were approved at the Lycoming County commissioners weekly meeting. The funds are part of the second round of sewer and water awards.

The breakdown of the awards is as follows: Hughesville Water Authority’s water meter replacement project, $338,656; Jersey Shore Area Joint Water Authority’s Larry’s Creek filter plant replacement project, $1 million; Lycoming County Water and Sewer Authority’s Riverside Drive area stormwater improvements, $600,000; LCWSA’s Limestone water system improvements, $500,000; Montoursville Borough’s finished water reservoir project, $500,000; West Branch Regional Authority’s Muncy trunk line, $500,000; and the Williamsport Municipal Water & Sewer Authority’s Brook Street pressure-reducing valve, $640,944. Grants awarded totaled $4,079,600.

John Lavelle, deputy director at the county’s planning and community development department, detailed how the county had arrived at choosing these particular projects for the ARPA funds.

The county had received $22 million in the ARPA monies in 2021 and 2022, which had to be allocated by June 30 next year and spent by June 30, 2026.

When the county had solicited applications for the funds, they received 119 applications equaling $54 million in project requests. There were also $24 million worth of requests internally in the county government.

Following listening sessions with various sectors in the community, a list of categories and priorities were formulated.

“The commissioners goals were to assist those who were impacted by the pandemic, attempt to positively impact as many Lycoming County residents as possible, maximize utilization of these funds and invest in legacy projects like broadband, sewer, water and electrical,” Lavelle said.

“Every decision we make, I think if you’re going through this list, you’ll see it’s a generational impact,” said Commissioner Scott Metzger.

“It’s going to be something that’s going to last for generations and that was the biggest thing that I wanted to see happen,” Metzger added.

Eric Johnston, of the Jersey Shore Water Authority, which received funds for the full replacement of a water treatment plant in the Cogan Station area, told the commissioners that the total cost of the project is $12 million.

“We’re currently a 1914 water treatment plant. It’s pretty much all still original,” Johnston said.

With the new automated system, production will be increased by one million gallons a day.

“That will help us grow the communities that do not have water also. Like everyone says, generational was the key word here. We had a water treatment plant from 1914, 108 years now. We’re hoping this one lasts just as long, if not longer,” he said.

He noted that they have been contacted by businesses that wanted to relocate into the area, but a lack of water service was a deterrent.

“This would assure us to possibly get businesses to come to the area and attract folks that come into the area as well,” Johnston said.

A Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RCAP) grant agreement with the Commonwealth Office of Budget in the amount of $5 million was approved by the commissioners. The grant is a pass-thru to UPMC for the emergency department expansion at Muncy Valley Hospital. Total cost of the project, which has been in progress over the past six years, is $10.6 million, according to Mya Toon, the county’s chief procurement officer.

The commissioners approved the following real estate tax refunds: 100 Mechanic St., Muncy, FEMA buyout, $419.90; 119 North Washington St., Montoursville, FEMA buyout, $525.79; 2097 Meadow Lane, Loyalsock Township, FEMA buyout, $339.95; 2095 Meadow Lane, Loyalsock Township, FEMA buyout, $405.41; Meadow Lane, Loyalsock Township, FEMA buyout, $36.82; Family Promise, 320 Park Ave., homeless shelter, $1,022.52; Williamsport Assembly of God, 1130 Sheridan St., parking lot for church, $117, Williamsport Assembly of God, 1230 Sherman St., part of church addition if on the parcel that the parsonage sits on so there is a partial exemption, $55.77. Total of refunds, $3,307.98.

A resolution to permit closing documents to be signed by the director of administration and chief clerk was approved.

The documents are related to the transaction and agreement of sale of the following parcels from the Pennsylvania College of Technology: 359 W. Third St., which is next to the county’s transfer station and will allow for expansion of the facility; 3341 Wahoo Drive, the new coroner’s facility; and vacant land located on Fritz Station Road in Brady Township.

Other actions items approved by the commissioners included: a change order with Air Management Technologies Inc. totaling $400,000 related to HVAC upgrades at Third Street Plaza; a state and local cybersecurity grant application to the Department of Community and Economic Development; a COVID-19 Mitigation for County Jails grant application to the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency for $111,529; an amendment to an agreement with Nokia of America in the amount of $24,500 for a software upgrade for the 911 call center; the purchase of a Carlson Landfill GPS unit for the new Caterpillar Compactor at the landfill from Carlson Software Inc., for $46,400; a change order with Martz Technologies Inc., for a 130 day extension; an agreement with PennCore Consulting LLC to take core samples on land the county purchased from the Bureau of Prisons for Resource Management Services; and an agreement with McClure Company for $17,550, related to sanitary issues in the basement of the Courthouse.

Under personnel, the commissioners approved hiring the following persons for the positions and rates of pay listed: Ethan Newton, full-time replacement adult probation officer I, $21.81 per hour; and Bonnie Gee, full-time replacement clerk III in the Domestic Relations Office, $15.74 per hour.

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