Prospect Hill tower project attracts submissions / By Martha Knight

SMETHPORT—Five companies submitted packets of qualifications material and three entered bids for supplying the tower components for the Prospect Hill Communications tower replacement project, McKean County Commissioners learned at their bid opening and regular meeting Monday morning.

Andrew Johnson, 911 director, opened the bids and called out information for Commissioner chairman Joe DeMott and fellow commissioners Al Pingie and Cliff Lane.

The qualifying packets came from as far away as Iowa and Virginia. The bids on components were from Kentucky, Iowa and Louisiana.

The commissioners closed the bidding and referred all the submissions to Johnson and the consultant engaged for the project.

The apparent low bid on tower components was Allstate Tower, Inc. of Henderson, Kentucky, with a quotation of $82,064.

An agenda item listed as “Grievances—CYS” found the commissioners adopting a motion to “deny all grievances.” The commissioners and solicitor Dan Hartle were tight-lipped on the labor matter. DeMott said that there were three grievances filed by Children and Youth Services employees, and that the denial by the commissioners would move the dispute to the appeals process.

The commissioners adopted a resolution authorizing an application to the Pennsylvania Municipal Assistance Program for a grant to help fund a project to provide architectural site rendering guidelines for a property on the Route 6 corridor in Mt. Jewett.

The Department of Community and Economic Development would fund the grant, if the application is approved. The county would furnish in-kind services through the McKean County Department of Economic Development and its director, Sherri Geary.

A proclamation adopted by the commissioners declared October National Disability Employment Awareness Month. It states that workplaces welcoming the talents of all, including people with disabilities, help to build an inclusive community and a strong economy.

On hand to speak in support of the proclamation was Jessica Illuzzi of Goodwill of North Central Pennsylvania. She stated that such inclusive policies benefit all, those with disabilities and those without.

Another proclamation took notice of Record Your Veteran’s Discharge Day, October 13, 2014. It states that armed forces veterans are entitled and encouraged to record their DD214 discharge certificates at the office of the county recorder of deeds along with the office of the director of veterans’ affairs.

The discharge records are confidential records, the proclamation emphasizes. Copies may be provided to a surviving spouse or other immediate family members, or authorized agent, or pursuant to orders from courts or certain government agencies.

Invoices approved were one from Ceres Township for $5,542 in Liquid Fuel project payment, a similar claim by Wetmore Township for $6,165 to cover its completed project, and one from the Area Transportation Authority for $16,006.25 for its budget allotment for the fourth quarter of 2014.

County aid applications from Eldred Borough, for $1,664; Lewis Run Borough, for $1,293; both for future projects; also Liberty Township, $9,222, for a paving project; and Norwich Township, $2,866 for base repairs on township roads.

Also approved were agreements with three service providers, as requested by the Department of Human Services.