Commissioners planning 911, HVAC work / By Martha Knight

SMETHPORT—The McKean County Commissioners took additional steps at their meeting Tuesday morning to upgrade the 911 communications system in the county, and the heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) systems in the Court House.

Architects and engineers R.W. Larson Associates P.C. will design Phase II of the work at the court house, for $35,600. Work is winding down on the upgrades in the lower wing, housing many county offices.  Phase II tackles the upper wing.

Commissioners Joe DeMott, Al Pingie and Cliff Lane also voted to accept a proposal from MCM Consulting Group, Inc. for professional services for planning a wireline/wireless 911 communications center. The contract covers three years at $12,500 a year, for a total of $37,500.

Pingie said that MCM has done a great job in their work to date, for the county.

The county’s agreement with SBM Electronics, Inc, for Verint maintenance, for the 911 service’s Audiolog Max Pro system, was renewed.  It will cost $5,441 a year. DeMott said this is for the automatic recording system.

In another 911-related action, the commissioners adopted a resolution calling on the Pennsylvania General Assembly to amend the state measure governing emergency communications such as the 911 system, and to charge fees sufficient for supporting such communications systems. The resolution notes that the present surcharge charged phone customers will expire on June 30, and is not adequate. Also, communications technology is changing rapidly, so more flexibility is needed in the language of measures governing its design and use.

The resolution points out that the current phone surcharge revenues cover only 80 percent of the current cost of providing the service, with the rest being covered by property taxes, and no provision for costs of modernization.

Commissioners also approved an invoice from Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services, Inc.  (ADAS) for $9,613, their budget allotment for the final quarter of 2014, and approved a service provider at the request of the Department of Human Services.