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MONTGOMERY -- Four candidates for Lycoming County commissioner met in a political forum at the historic Eagles Grange No. 1 hall this week.
Ahead of the Nov. 7 general election, Democrats Denitra Moffett and Mark Mussina and Republicans Scott Metzger, an incumbent commissioner, and Marc Sortman, a Loyalsock Township supervisor fielded questions from moderator Jason Fink, president and CEO of the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce and some audience members.
Metzger, Sortman, Moffett – a U.S. Army veteran – and Mussina, a real estate agent and partner in the Northcentral Pa.com media site, discussed their bipartisan commitment to doing what is right for county taxpayers and employees.
With a population of a bit over 113,000 and commissioners approving a 2023 budget of about $138.9 million that kept the real estate tax millage at 6.5, Fink moderated the forum asking a series of questions and giving time for open and closing remarks and some audience questions.
He led off with a question that got the candidates to answer what they believed was most important.
"What will be your priority or priority items to address as county commissioner and how do you plan to accomplish them?" Fink asked.
Moffett's answer focused on bringing more younger families to the area and finding more affordable and available daycare.
She said one impediment was finding more jobs with a "liveable and sustainable wage."
"By myself, I am going to do nothing," Mussina said. "I am not here to reinvent the wheel."
Mussina said he met with officials at the landfill, water and sanitary authority, planning, public safety and the coroner.
"What we need is communication throughout everything because not one entity works by itself," he said.
"I am going to come to work with people, to encourage and to validate the people that are already there," Mussina said.
He added the county had "smart and dedicated workers."
Metzger credited his fellow outgoing commissioners Rick Mirabito and Tony Mussare and what, as a board, was accomplished.
He cited a critical item as the continued efforts to correct deficiencies identified and make repairs to the Williamsport levee system, which protects the city, South Williamsport, Loyalsock Township and Old Lycoming Township.
There is at least $4.5 billion in industry (real estate assets) behind the levee system, Metzger said. This area provides protection for what amounts to 87 percent of the county's economic activity, he said.
"If that levee system fails, Lycoming County would be lost for generations," Metzger said.
As such, Metzger outlined how the commissioners worked in a bipartisan manner in Washington, D.C. and – if he were to be reelected – he would join others headed in December to meet with U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Dallas, in Washington, D.C. and others involved in the levee recertification and accreditation.
Furthermore, Metzger said, the Williamsport Regional Airport must reopen to commercial flights.
He described reasons why the airport is not open at this time. He cited such issues as a post-COVID shortage of pilots, prices for airplane service continuing to escalate and many airports focused on the urban areas as opposed to the regional sites. He noted how the Williamsport Airport Authority is working hard to get the airline back because it helps industry and helps businesses.
Thirdly, he said, the existing workforce needs to remain in the county and he noted how he considers the two colleges – Pennsylvania College of Technology and Lycoming College – to be champions to ensure that happens.
Sortman referred potential voters to his track record as supervisor and chairman of the supervisors board in Loyalsock Township.
He said, as they've done in township, if the county can get a proper tax base for businesses, more businesses will be brought in.
He also agreed with Mussina that there are existing workers in the county with the ability to do their jobs.
Sortman said there are able managers who should continue to control their own departments and set their direction.
Fink asked a question related to housing as attracting new residents to the county, asking each candidate if he or she agreed with this assessment and, if so, what they could do as county commissioner.
HOUSING GROWTH
Mussina, a real estate agent for 15 years, noted how he has seen the market fluctuate and noted there appears to be little incentive for people to build housing right now. Moreover, he said, those with land don't want to develop it or give up their natural gas ownership rights on their properties.
He said more attention must be paid toward repurposing empty spaces on store fronts in the boroughs' downtowns, refurbishing them and creating more liveable spaces.
He noted how Penn College was in the process of buying dilapidated buildings in Williamsport, but he also observed there to be a shortage of plumbers, electricians pipefitters.
"I know we all want to on Saturday morning play two hours of soccer or basketball," Mussina said, instead encouraging people to teach these younger people how to hang drywall.
"This would not only improve the area, but would create living spaces – kind of like a Habitat for Humanity for youth," he said.
It would lead to, maybe not master craftsmen but individuals who say 'hey i can do this stuff, I can do drywall I can paint.'"
Metzger said he agreed there was a housing crisis, but noted there is natural gas impact fee money that is being used toward that end. He noted the commissioners approved a Housing Initiative that put $2 million last year and $2 million this year toward improving housing options for those needing places in which to live.
He said the commissioners know of several developers that are interested in continuing on this course and said he knew of 185 new homes in the county. He also cited the example of Penn College officials reconditioning a house on Fifth Avenue in Williamsport..
"Programs are already started . . . I would continue what the commissioners have in place," Metzger said.
Sortman noted how the township and county could offer a mixture of new housing, renting and tenant living and houses for those looking for a starter or ending home.
Moffett suggested there be emphasis to bring in building developers who want to recondition older housing stock. New housing is relatively unaffordable for many people and, she said, one way to combat that is to find more people interested in rehabilitating houses and building houses, specifically single-family units, which, she said, "is key to growing the economy."
Moffett said consideration must be given to providing more available parking for those with a lack of places to park nearby their residences.
To a question regarding ongoing economic developments, such as what is taking place at Timber Run Industrial Park along Route 15 along with the Lycoming Mall, Fink asked, "What do you see as a key to economic development in Lycoming County, working to grow existing businesses and attracting new ones?"
Metzger pointed toward development that has occurred while he was in the elected office as chairman for the past four years.
The existing and new developments will bring additional residents and visitors and opportunities, he said.
Over this time, Metzger, at one point the forum and related to the question, observed how he and his colleagues will have completed 17 bridges by the end of this year, ended the Sharwell Building lease, saving $572,000 a year, the sale of the Executive Plaza that will net the county $1.3 million over the listed price, finding a location for the coroner, developed the Timber Run Industrial Park, started a housing initiative program, development generational-impact for the use of the American Rescue Plan fund monies, acquired land conversion to allow the county to develop land around the White Deer Golf Course for future housing, purchased land for the expansion of the landfill and transfer station, achieving an opioid settlement and increasing mental health funding while updating personnel policies and compensation for the hiring and retention of employees.
He suggested there was a need for the commissioners to continue to show the benefits of this area in terms of private-government partnerships, working with the Chamber of Commerce and its vast resources, involvement with the colleges and public school districts and promotion of tourism.
Sortman pointed toward the success of the 'Golden Strip' on East Third Street as an example of the business growth that increases the tax base.
"You grow your business and bring the taxbase in by growing your taxbase," he said. He reminded those in the room that it was the developers from Famvest of State College who first expressed interest in investing in real estate in the township and who continue to promise future huge investment income and tax base growth for the rest of the county.
"It's the people," Moffett said, citing how she "fell in love with the county," having come from Mississippi after her military service.
As a commissioner, she vowed to be one on the frontlines of showing developers benefits of living in the county that attracted her to want to live here.
The county's "potential, beauty and residents," she said.
Mussina said every community wants to attract industries and business, but he reminded those in the room that the biggest industry in the county is tourism.
He cited the region as the southern gateway to the Northern Tier and the Rails to Trail pathway from Jersey Shore to Wellsboro among other amenities the county has.
"I don't know why some go here or go to Lancaster," he said of reasons why businesses go where they do. "I know what isn't going away is our outdoors," he said.
To a question of how to prevent population decline, the candidates offered the following summaries: Moffett urged there to be more focus on attracting a new generation of workers and preventing them from being forced to drive to Harrisburg or State College to find jobs that have family-sustainable wages.
Mussina spoke of an acquaintance who had a job in New York City, but who lived in Lycoming County. Due to the technology available, remote working can be done while contributing to the county taxbase, he said.
Mussina said there was a need to expand and upgrade broadband internet.
Metzger said, in terms of opportunity to grow and showcase what the county offers, he could see similarities to the population increase that occurred for the Poconos' region following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
He cited the benefits of promoting the colleges, parks, public school system and recreational opportunities such as improvements at the White Deer Golf Course that led to that facility, which is managed privately under a contractor, to accumulate $400,000 in its bank.
He said the colleges, parks, schools, Susquehanna Riverwalk and its planned expansion to Elm Park, Newberry and Susquehanna State Park were assets that should be showcased to bring more people to live in the county.