The Lycoming County Commissioners will be meeting with representatives from congressional offices and touring the flood damage in the area next week in hopes of getting the federal government to declare a disaster which would open up more monies for flood recovery.

Sheriff Mark Lusk speaking about the recovery in Trout Run at the commissioners meeting this week said that from the infrastructure sense, the volunteer work and the support the county has given through the commissioners, Resource Management Services, county planning and the Sheriff’s Office, “it’s all been very, very helpful.”

Lusk said that the problem is that Trout Run is a little town with many folks who just “don’t have cash to rebuild.”

“What we’ll see Tuesday when they do the tour is they just don’t have money to rebuild and federal support is critically needed to help places like Trout Run, Pennsylvania, or if it doesn’t get it, in many situations it will not get rebuilt,” The Sheriff stated.

“I honestly believe there’s money in the federal government someplace to help these people,” he added.

“We’re very encouraged that the federal government will be here on Tuesday. That will be a big plus,” said Commissioner Scott Metzger.

“Our email to them was that you can’t do it justice by looking at a picture. You have to be here in person. So, they have taken us up on our invitation,” he said.

In other actions, the commissioners approved the following items: fiscal year 2024 Community Development and Block Grant selection and finalization; fiscal year 2022 CDBG subrecipient agreement with Jersey Shore Borough in the amount of $78,870.00; fiscal year 2023 CDBG subrecipient agreement with Jersey Shore Borough in the amount of $78,868; the purchase of network switches from EPlus for $91,206; rental of a long reach excavator for Resource Management Services (RMS), from R&L Development Company in the amount of $5000; 6.6 Jason Yorks – the rental from Cleveland Brothers of a D4 Dozer for RMS; agreements with White Deer Run, LLC dba Adelphoi Village and the amendment to the agreement with DSC Solutions, all for the Juvenile Probation Office; the Municipal Waste Planning Grant agreement with the Department of Environmental Protection in the amount of $56,611; the change order to Church of Savior Social Hall with H&P Construction in the amount of $870 related to work on a voting site at that location; agreements with Trisha D. Hoover, Esq., Robert Hoffa, Esq. and K. Michael Sullivan, Esq., and an amendment to the agreement with Matthew A. Diemer, Esq. for the Public Defender’s Office. It was noted that the appointments to the Public Defender’s Office were not approved budgeted items but that funds are available.

The commissioners also approved hiring Ron Gosnay as a full-time recycling laborer at $14.50 per hour.

The next commissioners’ meeting will be at 10 a.m. Sept. 5 at the 3rd floor Commissioners’ Board Room, Third Street Plaza, 33 West Third St.