Approval of an agreement with a local company for the removal of a six-bay garage at the County Farm sparked comments by Lycoming County Commissioner Marc Sortman about the new direction being taken at the county-owned property.

“They’re trying to do something new,” Sortman said, referring to an Open House being planned for Sept.18 at the farm, located in Loyalsock Township.

“They’re inviting the public, inviting farmers, inviting students. I think it’s an exciting time for us. One of the things the three of us have tried to do is take that farm complex and really enhance what’s going on there. We created a team, a committee of five local farmers that are really operating and making these decisions,” Sortman said at this week’s commissioners’ meeting.

The agenda item that was approved involved an agreement with Steinbacher Enterprises, Inc. to the removal of the garage at a cost of $9,253.

This move is in conjunction with plans to sell the house adjacent to the garage, which had been the home to the county farmer for many years. The money from the sale will go towards the demolition costs.

“We will be selling the house nest to the farm and we will have an empty lot next to that (which) will also go up for sale for residential,” Sortman said.

“With those proceeds we will continue to invest that money just into the farm itself, meaning getting the roof-there’s some repairs that need to be done and painted-and the barn repainted, and getting things cleaned up. The barn has been completely cleaned up. All the old equipment has been sold off, providing also some money to purchase new equipment,” he said.

Lycoming County is the only county in the state operating its own farm and Sortman urged people to come to the open house to see what’s happening at the site.

“If you’ve never seen that farm out there, it’s really kind of amazing. So it’s one of the most beautiful farms, I think, that exists in Lycoming County. So, we’ve got some good excitement happening within the county,” Sortman said.

It was announced that 30 vendors have already signed up for the event.

“Ultimately the goal was to turn it (the farm) into more educational type items out there,” Sortman said.

He cited an instance in the past when a school had wanted to put beehives at the farm and were told no.

“We’re not gonna say no to things like that because those are the things that are going to help their education programs and help kids to learn,” Sortman said.

In other actions, the commissioners approved five items related to the Juvenile Probation Office. These include agreements with: Alternative Living Solutions for transitional living at $274 per day, with no increase this year; Clear Visions Residential Treatment Services, Inc. for residential services at $245 per day, a 9.5 increase; Families United Network, Inc., Muncy, for foster care services and transitional services for ages 14 and up, with increases in costs for all services, but 3 percent for most; Kidspeace National Centers, Inc. for residential and foster care services, with no rate increases over last year; and Diakon Child Family Life Services, with a 4 percent increase but the county does not get billed for these services.

Other agenda items approved were: an agreement with Forensic Fluids Laboratories for the Coroner’s Office; the quote for professional services from Integra One in the amount of $2,137; the bill of sale for miscellaneous IT equipment to M Hakim M Hashim in the amount of $2,151; the bill of sale for miscellaneous IT equipment to M Hakim M Hashim in the amount of $2,272; an agreement with NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service) for a time extension for EWP (Emergency Watershed Protection) projects until September 27, 2025; the NRCS EWP Request #1 with DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) in the amount of $123,235 for additional work along the watershed; the continuation of the grant application for RASA/VOJO (Rights and Services Act/Victims of Juvenile Offenders) funds from PCCD (Pennsylvania Commission on Crime/Delinquency) in the amount of $122,201; ratification of the Lycoming County State Food Purchase Program grant application for pass-through funds for the Central PA Food Bank for those in need; an agreement with Health Network Laboratories. d/b/a Forensic Pathology Associates for the District Attorney’s Office, not to exceed $15,000; and an agreement with ICON Fire in the amount of $7,430 to relocate sprinklers in the new building at Third Street Plaza.

Under personnel, the commissioners approved hiring the following persons for the positions and rates of pay listed: Danielle Losinger, full-time Licensed Practical Nurse at the prison, $30 per hour; and Summer Harris, full-time recycling laborer at Resource Management Services, $14.50 per hour.

The next commissioners’ meeting will be at 10 a.m., Sept. 4, at the Commissioner’s Board Room, 3rd floor, Third Street Plaza, 33 W. Third St.