Calling the situation a “major health hazard,” the Lycoming County Commissioners weighed in on the issue between the Muncy Township Volunteer Fire Company on who is responsible for the damage done when sewage backed up in the first floor of the township building where the fire company is located.

As of this week, the fire company had reported that fecal matter was still in their area of the building and that now there are other hazards from mold, fungus and bacteria. The fire department contends that the clean up, which could cost upwards of $40,000, is the responsibility of the owners of the building, Muncy Township. The township, according to board chair Terri Lauchle, is not responsible and will not pay beyond the initial bill to have the plumbing repaired.

Commissioner Scott Metzger said that he had reached out to the fire department and they had asked what the county could do to help. He then reached out to the board’s solicitor, attorney Chris Kenyon.

“Unfortunately, the county itself doesn’t have any authority or jurisdiction to actually issue any orders or directives for a cleanup module,” Kenyon said at this week’s commissioners’ meeting.

“All they could do is provide guidance on what means are available. The two most prudent means available to the township and their residents or the fire company would be to contact the sewage enforcement office for the township, who’s an independent enforcement office, similar to zoning officers, to address that issue,” he said.

Kenyon explained that the county does not do zoning or property maintenance or deal with any health or safety issues directly with the township. The township has their own zoning officials that do those things.

“The other option is to seek counsel from DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) relative to the issue, since it is a sewage issue, they do have regulatory authority over that particular matter,” Kenyon said, adding that DEP could then come and provide guidance or directives to require clean up.

“We would encourage the supervisors to do the proper thing and get this resolved and get it cleaned up,” Metzger said.

It’s not appropriate or fair to any one of the volunteer workers down there or anyone who enters that building. There’s just no reason for it, especially in today’s society, not to do the proper thing,” he added.

The commissioners also invited everyone to a community-wide meeting to discuss solutions to juvenile issues which have risen in the area. The meeting will be at 6 p.m. May 27 at the commissioners Board Room, 3rd floor Third Street Plaza.

“We’re looking for a packed room that evening…as we address ways that we can try to assist the municipalities going forward,” Metzger said.

Under regular business, the commissioners approved: an amendment to the agreement with First National Insurance Agency, LLC, the broker for the county’s health insurance to extend the agreement for another year; an update to Lycoming County Policy 314, donated days policy making a more efficient system; the Subrecipient Agreement Amendment #6 with Lycoming County Water & Sewer to move funds and extend the expiration date, total allocation $984,654 to be paid out of ARPA funds; accepting Subsequently Available Funds (SAF) from the Department of Health in the amount of $143,347; an agreement with Columbia County Prison to house county inmates as needed to be paid out of operating expenses; an agreement with DT Interpreting Services for interpretive services for non-English speaking prisoners at the County Prison to be paid from operating expenses; the purchase of a two-year extended service with SHI in the amount of $1,344 to be paid out of operating expenses; and the purchase of a two-year extended service from CDWG in the amount of $1,599, also paid out of operating expenses.

The commissioners also approved an amendment to the agreement with the Greater Lycoming Habitat for Humanity for the Scott Street Project to extend the time limit.

Under personnel, the commissioners approved filling the following positions at the rates of pay listed: Sara Dalton, full-time clerk III, in Adult Probation at $16.17 per hour; Gabrielle Giovacchini, full-time clerk III in Adult Probation at $15.45 per hour; Cana Riley, part-time resident supervisor at the Pre-Release Center, a union position at $20.70 per hour; and Michael Gomez, full-time correctional officer II at the Prison, a union position at $24.76 per hour.

The next commissioners’ meeting will be at 10 a.m., May 28 at the Commissioners’ Board Room, 3rd floor Third Street Plaza, 33 West Third St.