Homeowners who were affected by Tropical Storm Debby in August will have fees waived for applicable zoning permits until Aug. 31, following approval by the Lycoming County Commissioners of a request from the county’s Planning and Community Development department.

It was stressed that the fee waiver applies only to residences that were affected by Debby.

“This resolution pertains to the county’s attempts to balance two things,” said John Lavelle, the county’s deputy director of Planning and Community Development, who presented the request to the commissioners.

“First of all, supporting flood recovery efforts for Tropical Storm Debby flood victims,” he told the commissioners at their weekly meeting.

“And then second, conducting our responsibilities as floodplain administrators within the zoning department division and kind of uphold a certain set of minimum criteria with all these houses within the floodplain,” he said, adding that “the goal is to reduce vulnerability to flood damage.”

He noted that the way that is done is through processing permits for work done in the floodplain properties.

“To make sure that you don’t reinstall your HVAC system in the basement when that gets flooded every ten years. Or your basement collapses and now we have to figure out a way to reinforce,” Lavelle explained.

‘We’re trying to balance those things with compassion…it’s not an easy job,” he added.

“Anyone’s experience of a flood is traumatic. A lot of times they don’t know where to turn,” said Commissioner Scott Metzger.

“They need the help — the county will help in any way we can try to,” Metzger said.

Adrianne Stahl, the county’s district court administrator, presented the following requests to the board for approval for: an agreement with Dawn Sweeley, to provide court reporting services as needed at a rate of $305 per day or $205 per half day; agreements with Francine Elmaleh, Andres Urdaneta, Marilinda Scourtias and David Nivar to provide Spanish interpreter services at the rate of $65 per hour per person as needed; agreements with Krista L. Deats. Esquire, K. Michael Sullivan, Esquire, Eric A. Williams, Esquire, Donald Martino, Esquire and Trisha Hoover, Esquire, for professional services in the Public Defender’s Office when there is a conflict, at a rate of $90 per hour; and an agreement with Crossroads Counseling Inc. for psychological evaluations as ordered by the court at a rate of $500 per evaluation.

Other agenda items receiving approval by the commissioners included: the 2025 Administrative Services and Stop Loss Policy with Luminaire Health in the amount of $421,035; an amendment to a subrecipient agreement with Hughesville Borough Authority to reallocate $7,052 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds in between the authority’s meter project and their water line extension; an addendum to an agreement with WEX Bank for an additional fuel card; an amendment to an agreement with West Branch Drug and Alcohol Abuse Commission to expand services regarding the opioid settlement funds so that they can use the funds for all the allowable services; an amendment to an agreement with Tammey Edkin to extend the terms of the Prison Chaplain services through Dec. 31; an agreement with Cornerstone Discovery for expert service for digital forensics for the Public Defender’s Office regarding the Bailey trial; and the Juvenile Probation Service Program grant agreement with the state acting through the Juvenile Court Judges Commission 9 in the amount of $242,417 for reimbursement for the Juvenile Probation Officers.

Five agenda items presented by Jason Yorks, director of Resource Management Services (RMS) were approved. They included: an agreement with Meiser and Earl, Inc. for geological testing as needed; an agreement with Cintas to provide safety uniforms and clothing for RMS employees; an agreement with PetroChoice Holdings, Inc. for fuels, extending it through March 31 when it goes out to bid; an amendment to extend an agreement with XTREME Trucking Inc. for leachate hauling until March 31, when it will go out for bid; and approval of LCRMS to participate in the Pick-Up Pennsylvania Initiative with the PA Department of Environmental Protection to waive fees for those collecting debris for the Keep PA Beautiful Project in April.

Ken George, the county’s maintenance director, presented five agenda item request. Four were approved and one tabled. Approved were: a change order wit Keystruct Construction LLC for $1,865; an invoice from Anthony Visco for $7,795 for architectural services for the 1st floor of Third Street Plaza (TSP) where the Register & Recorder’s office will be; an invoice from Visco for $8,500 for architectural services on the 1st floor TSP for the Voter Services section in the back; an invoice from Visco for $4,505 for work that had been done at the Court House in the basement.

A request to approve an invoice from Visco for $1,838 for architectural services regarding the exterior of TSP was tabled.

A permit application to the Williamsport Area School District for the use of the cafeteria at Lycoming Valley Intermediate School, presented to the board by Kelsey Green, hazard mitigation planner, was approved. The site will be used for the Public Stakeholder meeting for updating the county’s Hazard Mitigation Plan to be held on March 24.

Under personnel, the commissioners approved filling the following positions at the rates of pay listed: Nathan Ilinski and Brendan Wertz, full-time correctional officers at the prison, union positions, $20 per hour; and Joseph Shamburg full-time recycling laborer at RMS, a union position, $14.50 per hour.

The next commissioners’ meeting will be at 10 a.m. March 6 at the Commissioners’ Board Room, 3rd floor Third Street Plaza, 33 W. Third St.