Thank You For Your Support

Thank you, voters of Potter County. It's time to get back to work. Remember that our doors are open and your input is welcome. Our three-member team remains intact and we look forward to continuing to address the challeges and obstacles that Potter County faces for another four years.

VOTE TODAY UNTIL 8 P.M.

If you are undecided about how to cast your two votes, read through all of the posts on this blog (all 48 of them!) to learn more about the accomplishments of the Potter County Commissioners who have been at the helm for the past eight years.

Cast your votes for Doug Morley and Paul Heimel.

Sample ballots for all of Potter County are available on the County's award-winning website: pottercountypa.net.

Important Water Quality Meeting Nov. 10

This Board of Commissioners have stepped up when it comes to

environmental stewardship. Here's just one example.

A group of public water system stewards in Potter County has a jam-packed agenda for its next public meeting. Triple Divide Watershed Coalition (TDWC), comprised of all public water systems in Potter County, will convene at 9 am Wednesday, Nov. 10, at the Potter County Education Center on Water Street in Coudersport, across from the Gunzburger Building.

Guest speaker will be Peter Wulfhorst (shown here), an environmental pollution control educator at Penn State University, who will be discussing the latest options for protection of public drinking water source/recharge areas. TDWC Chairman John McLaughlin said the Sept. 18 chemical release at a Sweden Township gas well site was the impetus for inviting Wulfhorst to address the topic.

Other agenda items for the Nov. 10 meeting will include a review of the response to the release by a JKLM Energy Inc. crew on Sept. 18, as well as updates on some far-reaching groundwater mapping and characterization studies that are being proposed.

TWDC was formed by the Commissioners, Potter County Education Council, Potter County Planning Department, and other partners to assure safe drinking water for the 8,500 residents served by nine public water suppliers. The organization was presented the Pennsylvania Governor’s Award for Local Government Excellence. It recognized that Potter County was the first in the state to have a source water protection plans in place for 100 percent of its public water systems. Meanwhile, a Potter County Water Quality Work Group continues to pursue a number of initiatives, involving regional watershed protection organizations, volunteer surface water monitors and other partners, including the Potter County Conservation District. Also, the Conservation District has in place a Water Development and Water Resources Committee comprised of Trout Unlimited’s Pete Ryan and David Saulter, Commissioner Doug Morley, and Conservation District representatives Jason Childs, Earl Brown and Leroy White.

Keep 'Dedicated Pair' In Office

"Voters in Potter County, I strongly encourage you to keep
a very dedicated and wise pair of Commissioners
in office for Potter County.
Doug Morley and Paul Heimel are two professionals
who are people of integrity.
Do the best thing and re-elect these good men."

 

--Pete Smeltz, Commissioner, Clinton County

 

Future of Denton Hill State Park?

Two state-hired consultants (at left) discuss four-season use
options with PCVA executive director David Brooks and others
at a recent meeting at the ski lodge.

Just about every week, we've been conferring with those who are in the know about the future of Denton Hill State Park to get answers about its future. It's an asset with great potential, not only for winter recreation, but all-season use in conjunction with other regional assets. We will continue to stay on top of this in representing Potter County before DCNR, members of the legislature and others who can affect the future of this 700-acre park in Potter County's epicenter.

Specialty Courts Addressing Drug & DUI

Sessions of the Potter County DUI Court and Drug Treatment Court were held this past week.

It's hard to measure the true positive impact -- such as the difference between a substance abuser whose behavior affects his family and society in general, versus a sober adult behaving responsibly, working and supporting his family.

All signs suggest these award-winning court systems are working (both financially and in lives turned around or even saved). Diverting some of those with alcohol and/or drug problems to this intensive-supervision court has prevented almost 6,000 "jail days" and counting. Savings for that alone are in the ballpark of $250,000.

Studies show that 80 percent of defendants with addiction or behavioral disorders who go through the traditional criminal justice system end up back in jail, compared to just over 20 percent of those whose cases are handled through specialty courts.

Staying The Course

http://pastatelandtaxfairness.com/  

Why have we been dogging this issue with such determination and leading this state coalition? Because if we succeed, we're looking at an influx of millions of dollars over the years to Potter County's school districts, townships and the county government.

That would lessen the real estate tax burden on local property owners. That's why!

We've held face-to-face meetings in Harrisburg with dozens of influential members of the Senate and House. Many have pledged their support and are pushing to have the payments-in-lieu-of-taxes for state land raised during the negotiations on the long-overdue state budget and taxation policies.

Riding Out The State Budget Impasse

We've been fortunate to be able to ride out the four-month-long state budget impasse and avoid any substantial borrowing, cuts in vital services or layoffs.

How? With prudent fiscal management over the past 8 years.

Services for senior citizens, the developmentally disabled, vulnerable children and others in need have been uninterrupted. That's not the case in some other counties.