Sun-Gazette file photo Birds scatter as excavators spread out the garbage as it is dumped at the Lycoming County Landfill.

Fees for disposing of debris from the flooding that impacted area communities two weeks ago will be waived at the county’s landfill until Sept. 20.

The Lycoming County Commissioners ratified the approval of a resolution making it possible for those who have been cleaning up after the damage from flood waters that affected 11 area municipalities to get rid of flood debris without paying the fee. The fee waiver is only at the landfill, not at the transfer station.

Speaking at this week’s commissioners’ meeting, Commissioner Scott Metzger praised this as another way the county is helping to assist those who suffered loss from the flooding.

Jason Yorks, director of Resource Management Services (RMS), stressed that his staff will be monitoring to make sure that only those people who experienced damage to their property from the flood are taking advantage of the waiver.

“Impacted municipalities through Lycoming County EMA (Emergency Management Agency) will update the list of locally authorized haulers of flood debris for record tracking purposes,” Yorks said, reading from the resolution.

“Municipalities are to coordinate with their residents for collection of flood debris to be disposed of at the Lycoming County Landfill,” the resolution further stated.

“This is definitely a different precedent,” Yorks said.

“Tracking is the devil in the details. Making sure no one else is taking advantage of the situation with the disposal is the difficult part. But we are set up for it,” he added.

In another action, a 24-25 Medical Assistance Transportation Program (MATP) grant agreement and allocation was approved by the commissioners. The grant, totaling $1,646,608 will help to provide transportation to medical appointments for county residents on medical assistance who do not have transportation available to them. In conjunction with this, the commissioners approved the MATP subrecipient monitoring agreement for the grant.

STEP, Inc. provides assistance in three main areas, said Don Merk, transportation director. This includes the shared ride transportation program, as well as reimbursement for people who have access to a personal vehicle and also bus passes.

“We’re projecting that we’ll serve 1,430 clients, customers in the Medical Systems Progra, and we’re projecting about 34,172 trips,” Merk said.

In other business, the commissioners approved two community Development Block Grant (CDBG) subrecipient agreements with the Lycoming Water and Sewer Authority (LCWSA). The first in the amount of $207,862 is from CDBG 2023 funds and will be used for The second from CDBG 2022 funds totaling $121,138 and are for the authority’s Route 44 project.

Another 2023 CDBG subrecipient agreement with South Williamsport Borough in the amount of $100,330 was also approved.

A subrecipient agreement with the YWCA Northcentral PA in the amount of $600,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds was okayed by the commissioners. The monies will be used for electrical upgrades at the non-profit.

Other actions taken included approval of the following: submission of the fiscal year 2021 Budget Modification Certification to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development; an amendment to the agreement with McCormick Law firm extending their contract as assessment solicitor until July 2028; an agreement with Chor Youth and Family Services for the Juvenile Probation Department; a change order with Port Elevator in the amount of $6,500; a change Order with R & L Development in the amount of $800,837 for closure work at the landfill; the purchase of C.S Control from State Chemical in the amount of $24,908 to provide for pipe maintenance at the landfill; an agreement with Cintas in the amount of $4,104 per month to maintain AED defibrillators throughout the county;.a permit modification with DEP Waste Management Program in the amount of $300 for minor modifications at the landfill.

Under personnel, the commissioners approved filling the following full-time positions at the rates of pay listed: Roy Batson, correctional officer, union, at the prison, $20 per hour; Tracy Canfield, resident supervisor I, union, at the Pre-Release Center, $18.64 per hour; Allison Allen, domestic relations officer, 4, $15.45 per hour; Richard Dixon and Maureen Milagros Archibold Carrion, temporary law clerks, 12, in the Public Defender’s Office, $57,876 per year; and Jim McLaughlin, recycling laborer, 4, at Resource Management Services, $14.50 per hour.

The next commissioners meeting will be at 10 .m. Aug. 29, in the Commissioners’ Board Room, 3rd floor, Third Street Plaza, 33 West Third St.