SPRING
2020
www.pacounties.org AGRICULTURE IN PEN NSY LVA N I A
THE VOICE OF PENNSYLVANIA COUNTIES
Publisher Lisa Schaefer, Executive Director Editor Ken Kroski, Director of Media and Public Relations Design & Advertising Sales Graphtech
2020 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE The County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania President (CCAP) is the voice of county government; a statewide Jeffrey Snyder, Clinton County First Vice President nonprofit, nonpartisan association representing all 67 Kevin Boozel, Butler County counties in Pennsylvania. CCAP members include county Second Vice President commissioners, council members, county executives, Daryl Miller, Bradford County Treasurer administrators, chief clerks and solicitors. CCAP Leslie Osche, Butler County strengthens the counties’ abilities to govern their own BOD Chair Craig Lehman, Lancaster County affairs and improve the well-being and quality of life for every Pennsylvania resident. It advocates for favorable 2020 EDITORIAL BOARD state and federal legislation, programs and policies Executive Director, PPJS • Wayne Bear Executive Secretary • Lori Dabbondanza on behalf of counties. CCAP is committed to service Executive Director, PACDAA • Michele Denk excellence through education, information, insurance, Insurance Programs Services Coordinator • Tona Faust Insurance Programs Controller • Ginger Galliher technology and other programs that support effective Director of Member and Vendor Relations • Mandi Glantz county government. Founded in 1886, CCAP is a partner Executive Director • Lisa Schaefer Executive Director, PACA MH/DS • Lucy Kitner with the National Association of Counties. Director of Media and Public Relations • Ken Kroski Deputy Executive Director • Brinda Penyak To acquire an article idea submittal form for CCAP’s Pennsylvania Risk Management Training Director • Linda Rosito Managing Director Insurance Programs • John Sallade, CRM County News please email Ken Kroski at [email protected]. Director of Meetings and Education • Karen Sweigard
DISCLAIMER FOR ADVERTISING Jen Smith (717) 238-5751 x124 Pennsylvania County News [email protected] magazine is published four times a year by the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP). Editorial Offices: PO Box 60769, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17106-0769. The information provided in this publication is not intended to take the place of professional advice. Readers are encouraged to consult with competent legal, financial or CCAP OFFICE other appropriate professionals. Statements of facts and opinions expressed PO Box 60769 in this publication, by authors other than Association staff and officers, are Harrisburg, PA 17106-0769 the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent an (717) 526-1010 opinion or philosophy of the officers, members and staff of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP).
No endorsement of advertised products or services is implied by CCAP unless those products or services are expressly endorsed, or are owned or managed by the Association programs, or its affiliates. Materials may not be reproduced or translated in part or in whole without express permission. spring
AGRICULTURE IN PA Farms remain a critical component of life and the economy in Pennsylvania. Numerous aspects, including preservation and technology, are featured in this issue.
THE ENVIRONMENT Recycling, conservation districts and stormwater management are among the topics that impact our environment. Learn more.
SPECIAL FEATURE FOCUS ON Potter 44 County features
10 50 66
Farmland Preservation: Chesapeake Bay Watershed Correctional Psychiatry Far Reaching and Impactful
16 A Commitment to Preservation 21 An Ounce of Prevention 27 The Current State of Recycling 35 Implementing the Allegheny County Act 137 SWMP 39 Conservation Districts Make a Difference in our Communities 44 Focus on Potter County 54 The Future of Pennsylvania Agriculture: Is Our Broadband Infrastructure Up to the Task? 58 Addressing Climate Change in our Communities 62 Pennsylvania Names the Ghost Town Trail as 2020 Trail of the Year 77 County Budget Survey 81 There Will Be Good Days and Bad Days: Learn From Both in every issue 6 Executive Director’s Commentary 8 Annual Sponsors 64 Newsworthy
a five-time national award winning publication of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania executive director’s commentary
LISA SCHAEFER Executive Director County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania
E Pluribus Unum – Out of Many, One
his is not the column I tor of government relations, and so I able to envision your communities and originally wrote for this was very familiar with the work of the where you might be sitting in your County News. Association and the issues faced by courthouses when we connect after I our counties. But one of the things I’ve return to Harrisburg. When I first wrote this most enjoyed about these past seven Tcolumn, it was late February. In some ways the current circumstanc- months as executive director has been COVID-19 had not caused many the chance to really get to know and es have afforded me the opportunity challenges. I had driven nearly 1,200 understand the CCAP staff and our to connect with members and CCAP miles in that month and enjoyed six counties in a completely different way. staff even more closely than usual. county visits as far away as Greene We’ve worked together to identify, and Potter counties, ending with a I remain full of optimism at my new and in some cases invent solutions trip to Washington D.C. for the NACo role and gratitude for the warm wel- to our challenges. We’ve figured Legislative Conference. I had a little come and the level of support I have out ways to keep operations going, more than 600 minutes in talk time felt working with our leadership and maintain critical services and continue on my cell phone and just shy of 900 getting to know all of you better. I communicating with our many au- texts. continue to be inspired by the con- diences while also doing our best to versations I’m having with CCAP staff protect our employees and the public Now, it’s early April. I put on about throughout the transition process, be- and stop the spread of this virus. 450 miles in March, or about 300 if cause they reflected not just our high you don’t count the return trip from level of talent, but the passion that As it has throughout the transition, it Washington. But I have almost 2,000 each staff person brings to his or her continues to strike me that what we minutes and 1,500 texts on my cell role in serving our 67 counties. And I do as an association is not just about phone since March 3. Things have hope to soon continue enjoying my the big things. Our work advocating changed. visits to counties, having already spent at the Capitol, our conferences and time with our friends in 16 of our 67 meetings, our insurance and technol- No, this is not the column I originally ogy programs—those are all at the County News counties, listening to the challenges wrote for this . Yet in core of what we do. But if you look some ways, it still is. you face, hearing about the opportu- nities you are seizing to solve prob- beyond that, there are so many little Many of you reading this message lems and seeing their day in, day out things our staff are willing to do for know that I have been with CCAP for dedication to improving the lives of our counties—little things that make about 9 and a half years as the direc- your residents. Plus, I appreciate being a big difference to our members, but
6 PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY NEWS | SPRING 2020 Integrated PA to them, are just “part of the job” or “something I would have done anyway.” I am so proud of the character of the individuals who make up this amazing team and the way Property Tax they have stepped up to make sure our counties continue to have our strong support, so that all of you can feel con- Solutions fident that you have a dependable resource to turn to. It is a privilege to lead such an incredible group of people. Recently, the pastor at our church gave a message on the EDGE™ theme E pluribus unum—out of many, one. It reminded me that one of the convictions I have always felt during my time at CCAP is that while our counties all might be different—as we say, if you’ve seen one county, you’ve seen one county— CAMA & ASSESSMENT ADMINISTRATION our counties are all one in our mission to serve the people of Pennsylvania. Even within the Association, while each of our teams focuses on a different way of serving our members, BILLING & COLLECTION at the end of the day it is that service to our members that makes us one dynamic, effective organization. PERMITTING & ZONING In case you can’t tell, I have a long-standing, unwavering belief in CCAP and in our members, a belief that remains unshaken in the face of this crisis. I believe that our hearts RECORDS MANAGEMENT are in the right place and I believe that we will work together to face our challenges and embrace opportunities.
I believe that county government is committed to excellence EDGEMAPS™ in meeting the needs of its citizens.
I believe our team, from north to south, east to west, and WEDGE across every level of the Association, will not shrink from our duty to public service but will keep pushing forward, learn from one another and do everything we can to stop the spread of COVID-19.
It may take weeks yet, or even months, but I believe that we will get through this situation together. And through it all, we will maintain our commitment to make sure our com- munities, our counties, and in turn Pennsylvania, are safe, healthy and resilient places to live, work and play.
It’s an honor to be your executive director. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at any time with your ques- tions, concerns, ideas and feedback so we can build our future together. WWW.DEVNETINC.COM
[email protected] | (866) 4DEVNET
www.pacounties.org 7 The Pennsylvania County News For more information, 2020 and to learn about our gets seen by 2020 editorial calendar, along with opportunities Annual 1500+ readers to advertise in our Annual Conference Program, visit every quarter. www.pacounties.org. Sponsors
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8 PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY NEWS | SPRING 2020 SAPPHIRE LEVEL SAPPHIRE LEVEL DIAMOND LEVEL Pennsylvania Counties Health Insurance Purchasing Cooperative—PCHIPC PO Box 5406 Lancaster, PA 17606 Dominion Voting Systems (717) 723-4600 www.benecon.com 1201 18th Street, Suite 210 Denver, CO 80202 Contact: Fred Bean (866) 654-8683 The Pennsylvania Counties Health www.dominionvoting.com Insurance Purchasing Cooperative Contact: John Hastings (PCHIPC) was launched in October 2005 National Association of Counties with three counties. Today there are 22 (NACo) and their sponsoring Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, counties that represent 9,094 county programs: NACo Live Healthy- Dominion Voting Systems is one of employees. Prescription, Dental and Health the largest and most trusted providers Discount Program for Residents and of elections technology solutions. Membership is open to any Pennsylvania NACo 457 Deferred Compensation Founded in 2003, Dominion has over 250 county as well as any county agency administered by Nationwide employees consisting of a mix of election created under the Intergovernmental Retirement Solutions veterans who understand technology Cooperation Act. It is governed by a Board and engineering experts who understand of Directors made up of a representative 660 North Capitol Street NW, Suite 400 elections. Dominion is committed to from each of the member counties. Each Washington DC 20001-1450 producing the highest quality election member has a vote in governing PCHIPC. (202) 942-4221 • www.naco.org solutions and delivering the best support services to over 1,200 customers across The program has been successful due Contact: Kimberly Hall North America. Various initiatives, such as to total transparency of claim data and surplus returns that have generated cost The National Association of Counties continuous innovation driven by customer savings to member counties. (NACo) unites America’s 3,069 county partnerships, on-going certification governments. Founded in 1935, NACo efforts, and commitment to customer brings county officials together to advo- satisfaction, are helping Dominion reach cate with a collective voice on national its goal of being the clear partner of policy, exchange ideas and build new choice for election officials. leadership skills, pursue transformation- al county solutions, enrich the public’s understanding of county government and DIAMOND LEVEL exercise exemplary leadership in public service. NACo’s Programs and Services of- AT&T fer counties unique opportunities to help 2550 Interstate Dr. your residents, your employees and your Harrisburg, PA 17110 county meet the needs of the future. CCAP has a long standing relationship with (717) 269-5872 NACo and their sponsoring programs. As www.att.com a CCAP member you have the opportunity Contact: David Kerr to participate in the following endorsed programs: NACo Live Healthy-Dental and AT&T is a global telecommunications company with strong roots in Pennsylvania’s Health Discount Program (www.naco.org/ communities. AT&T helps millions around the globe connect with leading health) and NACo 457 Deferred Compen- entertainment, mobile, high speed Internet and voice services. With the acquisition of sation administered by Nationwide Retire- DirecTV, AT&T is the world’s largest provider of pay TV with customers in the U.S. and ment Solutions (www.nationwide.com). eleven Latin American countries. AT&T’s wireless network offers the nation’s strongest LTE signal and the most reliable 4G LTE network. AT&T offers the best global wireless coverage and helps businesses and governments in Pennsylvania and throughout the world serve their customers with fiber, mobility and secure cloud solutions.
www.pacounties.org 9 FAR REACHING AND IMPACTFUL
10 PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY NEWS | SPRING 2020 Doug Wolfgang Director PA Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Farmland Preservation Pennsylvania leads the nation in farmland preservation with 5,675 farms and 579,940 acres preserved through purchase of permanent agricultural conservation easements. The program is an investment in the future of Pennsylvania’s robust agricultural economy and ensures food supply for a growing population. The commonwealth and 58 participating county programs have invested $1.6 billion in this effort to date.
It all started in November of 1987 BALANCE AND when voters approved by wide CHALLENGES margin a bond referendum for $100 million to fund the purchase Thirty-two years later, the reasons of agricultural conservation ease- to continue preserving farmland ments. A year later, in 1988, the Ag are compelling. The latest Ag Cen- Area Security Law was amended to sus figures indicate that Pennsyl- create the state farmland preserva- vania lost thousands of farms from tion program. 2012-2017. The rate of conversion to other uses in some areas out- Today, Pennsylvania is the stan- paces the rate at which it is being dard-bearer for all similar pro- preserved. Growth is necessary grams across the United States. and inevitable. The program is not Farmland preservation is largely intended to compete with develop- bipartisan and something most ment, rather to balance agriculture everyone agrees is important. with other land uses. It is well funded, supported by the public, and thrives on strong Development pressures will con- partnerships. However, one of tinue to challenge the program as the greatest reasons for farmland more people place more demands preservation’s success is its admin- on energy and infrastructure. A istration at the grassroots level; recent example of this includes initially, when the farm owner signs commercial solar development. their land up in the township’s Ag- Tax incentives are driving solar ricultural Security Area (ASA), thus companies to look at farmland for making it eligible to be preserved; solar development, as it is open secondly, when applications are se- and cleared. Discussions on how lected by volunteer county boards. solar may be compatible with In total, hundreds of people that agriculture will continue, however make up county boards and ASA current law requires that energy committees champion the program be used primarily on the farm. In at the local level and are driven addition, major electric powerline by passion for saving farmland for and gas pipeline projects are hotly future generations. contested due to potential impacts
www.pacounties.org 11 to farmland. There are currently no such as Berks and Lancaster, pre- with established ASAs, with enroll- additional protections for pre- serve dozens of farms each year. ment topping 4.5 million acres. In served farms beyond those provid- addition to establishing ASAs, an ed by being in the ASA. By comparison, counties with less increasing number of townships funding must at times accumu- are contributing to easement pur- Entities such as public utilities are late funds in order to purchase an chases. exempt from Agricultural Lands easement. For example, the Craw- Condemnation Approval Board ford County Farmland Preservation Northampton County has a (ALCAB) jurisdiction, and thus avoid Board accumulated five years of long-standing partnership with ALCAB’s requirement to prove no state and local funds in order to municipalities to pool local funds reasonable and prudent alternative secure the 641-acre Dunn Family for state match. Some townships, to taking prime farmland. Another farm last year. such as Silver Spring Township example includes large warehous- (Cumberland County) use a vot- es that are replacing corn fields Private non-profit land conser- er-approved increase in earned along major highways linking the vation organizations, such as income tax to preserve farmland. Keystone State with the rest of the Lancaster Farmland Trust, partner Other townships, like Warwick nation. Zoning provides for these through the Land Trust Reimburse- Township (Lancaster County) and uses at the local level. Zoning will ment program, which helps to Clinton Township (Butler Coun- change over time, unlike an agri- cover incidental costs associated ty), enacted Transfer of Devel- cultural conservation easement, with easements purchased using opment Rights (TDR) ordinances which is perpetual. private dollars. Twenty-three active that require developers to pay to land trust organizations participate, preserve farmland in agriculture COUNTIES CONTRIBUTE including Lancaster Farmland Trust. zoned areas in exchange for high- The United States Department of er lot densities in areas best suited Preserving farmland in perpetuity for development. is a wise but costly investment. Agriculture is also a partner. The department is currently negotiat- With roughly 1,400 eligible farms ROI on county backlog lists waiting to ing a new cooperative agreement be preserved, there is much more to participate with the USDA-Natu- Although farmland preservation work to be done. The state Agricul- ral Resources Conservation Service is an initial expense, the return tural Land Preservation Board set (NRCS) Agricultural Conservation on investment is great. The Uni- the 2020 spending threshold at $43 Easement Program (ACEP), which versity of Pennsylvania, through million in February—the highest reimburses up to half of the ease- an ag research grant awarded by amount in more than a decade. ment purchase price of qualifying the department, found that the Dedicated funding sources include farms. In addition, the department total economic impact of farmland cigarette taxes and Environmental secured a federal Regional Conser- preservation ranges from $1.9 to Stewardship funds. vation Partnership Program (RCPP) $2.9 billion dollars each year. The award to install conservation and study cited a direct correlation Counties contributed $16.4 million best management practices on between the amount of farmland this year. Each participating county preserved farms in the Chesapeake preserved and a county’s eco- is awarded a grant amount, based Bay watershed. nomic performance related to on realty transfer tax revenue as a THE FIRST STEP agriculture. The environmental gauge for development pressures. benefits of preserved farmland are Counties that contribute funds also estimated to be $1.9 billion. The receive a match amount, based on Township involvement is instru- mental. The first step in preserv- report also suggests that farmland a prorated percentage of overall contributes more in tax dollars county contributions. Counties ing a farm begins at the township level when the farm owner joins than it demands in services and have two years to spend or encum- helps to offset shortfalls in local ber funds. Higher funded counties, the ASA. There are now more than 1,000 townships across the state tax revenue. The study indicates
12 PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY NEWS | SPRING 2020 that many farmers reinvest pro- Modern agriculture in Pennsylva- MARKETING AND ceeds in to farming operations nia is diverse. From dairy to ducks, AGRITOURISM by expanding, diversifying and hemp to hops, mushrooms to reducing debt load. This in turn maple syrup—the commonwealth Direct marketing is a vast sector boosts local economies and rein- has it all. of Pennsylvania agriculture be- vests funds into the agricultural cause some of the most productive infrastructure. This diversity is represented in the farmland is close to major popula- farms that county boards are work- tion centers. In fact, Pennsylvania It is easy to tout the benefits of ing hard to preserve. Crops here ranks third in the nation in direct farmland preservation from an grow on some of the most fertile farm sales. Successful farms like economic and food supply stand- non-irrigated soils found anywhere Maple Acres farm, the last remain- point, but the human side is at in the world and are located within ing farm in Plymouth Township times more difficult to capture. For a day’s drive of over half of the na- (Montgomery County) was recently some, the act of preserving the tion’s population. Preserved farms preserved. Maple Acres is a century family farm is a defining moment will feed the region, nation and old family farm that produces fresh in their lives. It is not a coincidence world in years to come. fruits and vegetables and has a that many Century and Bicen- thriving farm market. It was the site Although focused on food produc- tennial Farms are also preserved. of a celebration last year, as the lo- tion, farmland provides numerous Pennsylvania’s agrarian roots date cal community viewed its preserva- co-benefits to the commonwealth. back to colonial times. Farming is tion as a huge victory. By compar- Preserving quality farmland pro- embedded in culture here and is a ison, the larger traditional farming vides carbon sequestration, water way of life that transcends genera- operations in more rural counties retention from extreme weather tions. Love of farm and family is a are equally important to preserve. events, and a continuous food sup- common theme among the farm- Development pressures will inev- ply. All these benefits ensure a more ing community. itably encroach in these areas in resilient future for Pennsylvania.
www.pacounties.org 13 the future as population continues to grow. Purchasing easements in rural counties at today’s values makes sense.
Agritourism on preserved farms is flourishing as farm owners capi- talize on popular farm stays, barn weddings, harvest festivals, wine tastings and pick-your-own events. These farms rely on dependable broadband services for their cus- tomers and community. However, many parts of the commonwealth are unserved or underserved in regard to broadband services. The Governor’s Restore PA plan ensures that every resident has access to these necessary services. In todays’ FARMS IN TRANSITION Steve Reinford owns a preserved economy, many companies depend dairy farm in Juniata County that Dedicated county staff work to on the ability to reach customers he has managed for the past thirty secure new easement purchases— directly and promote their product. years. Steve is in the process of and realize that work associated transferring the farm to his three Erie County’s preserved Mazza with farms already preserved is on sons and will take advantage of Vineyards grows grapes, which the rise. Farms are required to be this grant to help offset costs. In produce wine that is direct mar- inspected biennially to verify that addition, farmers like Chris Orben keted. Related events on wineries landowners are following the deed from Berks County will benefit draw the public to the farm. The of easement. This is no small task. from the new realty transfer tax Flinchbaugh preserved farm in York Stewardship responsibilities will exemption for preserved farms County invites the public to take continue to increase over time as that are transferred to qualified part in pick-your-own pumpkins, a more farms are preserved. beginning farmers. For the past corn maze, and hayrides in the fall. five years, Chris has been involved All farms, whether preserved or The Flinchbaugh family takes pride in all aspects of day to day farm not, are in transition. The Pennsyl- in teaching children about agricul- management and is ready to take vania Farm Bill provides an unprec- ture and where food comes from. over ownership. Success stories like edented opportunity for preserved Direct marketing is considered these will help to shape the future farm owners to create business, agricultural production under the of agriculture in Pennsylvania. transition and succession plans Ag Area Security Law, provided at through the Ag Business Devel- least half of what is sold is pro- Pennsylvania’s Farmland Preserva- opment Center. More than one- duced by the farm operator. Sale tion Program is far reaching and third of all preserved farms have of other products and farm relat- impactful. The counties continued transferred to new owners. This ed events are provided for in the support is paramount to its future number is expected to increase county program’s rural enterprise success. It is hard to imagine what to two-thirds by 2030. The Farm guidelines. farmland preservation will be like Vitality Grant Program, through the 32 years from now, but it is cer- Ag Business Development Center, tain to have a lasting impact on provides up to $7,500 per farm the lives of all Pennsylvanians. As owner for the costs associated with public officials who support the obtaining and implementing such program year after year, this is in plans. part your legacy.
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www.pacounties.org 15 A Commitment to Preservation
Matt Knepper Director Agricultural Preserve Board
Commissioners of Lancaster It was 1980, Lancaster County time waiting for the state’s farm- was losing as many as 5,000 acres land preservation program. County recognize that each year to nonagricultural de- Lancaster County will sustain velopment. The Lancaster County The first farms were preserved in Board of Commissioners had just 1982 and 1983. By the time Lan- its share of future growth passed Resolution No. 74, offi- caster County’s farmland preserva- tion program was approved by the and that this growth should cially establishing the Agricultural Preserve Board to implement a Pennsylvania Department of Agri- be accommodated with a voluntary deed restriction pro- culture, the first county program to gram to preserve agriculture and be approved in the state, 64 farms minimum of conversion of agricultural land. This came after had been preserved. Nearly thirty prime agricultural land most two years of study by the Agricul- years later, a new Board of Com- tural Land Preservation Task Force, missioners would mark the mile- appropriate for continued who concluded Lancaster County’s stone of 1,000 farms preserved by agricultural use…” farmland was too valuable, that the the Lancaster County Agricultural county must act now, and waste no Preserve Board.
16 PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY NEWS | SPRING 2020 PREVERVATION BY PARTNERSHIP
The farm that would be the 1,000th preserved farm wasn’t a typical Lancaster County farm. It wasn’t an Amish-owned farm. At 43 acres, it was smaller than average. It wasn’t a dairy, and it wasn’t even a live- stock operation. But it was what makes Lancaster County’s farmland preservation program successful: it was preservation by partnership.
The 1,000th farm was preserved as a joint project between the Agricul- tural Preserve Board and Warwick Township. That partnership began in 1998 when Warwick Township Celebrating 1,000 are Matt Knepper, Agricultural Preserve Board director; Craig Lehman and became the first township in the Josh Parsons, Lancaster County commissioners; Fredrick “Hunter” Hess, 1,000th preserved county to share in the cost of pre- farm owner; Ray D’Agostino, Lancaster County commissioner; Andrea Shirk, Rock Lititz general manager; W. Logan Myers, III, Warwick Township Supervisors chair; and Jeff Frey, serving a farm with the Agricultural Agricultural Preserve Board chair. Preserve Board. Fittingly, the first ever county-township preserved and established official policy that farm is just across the street from THE PACE OF farms must be zoned for agriculture the 1,000th preserved farm and is PRESERVATION to qualify for preservation. farmed by the same farmer. Preservation by partnership ex- In the mid-90s, consistency with lo- The partnership to preserve the tends to other townships that cal land use planning was strength- 1,000th farm extends beyond the dedicate funding for farmland ened again, with the requirement county-township partnership. War- preservation in support of their that farms be located outside of a wick Township’s funding for farm- comprehensive plan and commu- Designated Growth Area to qualify land preservation comes from its nity goals. When a township shares for preservation. Additionally, all Transferable Development Rights the cost of preservation, their farms must be in an established (TDR) Program, a program that farmers receive priority from the Agricultural Security Area prior to allows developers of non-agricul- Agricultural Preserve Board, which preservation. These three require- tural land to increase density or lot allows the township to control the ments are land use designations coverage by purchasing develop- pace of preservation in their com- controlled by townships, ensuring ment rights from farmers. Warwick munity and the Agricultural Pre- the Agricultural Preserve Board Township brokers the deals, pur- serve Board to leverage its funding, and county townships concur when chasing development rights from providing for the preservation of deciding which farms should be farmers when a farm is preserved additional farmland elsewhere. permanently preserved. and later selling them to develop- Partnership with townships extend ers. It’s the partnership of devel- beyond simple cost sharing, as THE COMMITMENT opers, by participating in Warwick planning and zoning requirements TO PRESERVE Township’s TDR program, that for preservation are implemented at generated the funds needed for the local level. Early on, the Agricul- Lancaster County’s longest running Warwick Township to help preserve tural Preserve Board recognized the preservation partnership is with the 1,000th farm and 3,000 acres importance of agricultural zoning Lancaster Farmland Trust. Founded of farmland in their township.
www.pacounties.org 17 in 1988, the private, nonprofit where every dollar of county mon- The first farmers to preserve their Lancaster Farmland Trust was ey allocated for farmland preserva- farms were pioneers dedicated to formed as a deliberate response tion is matched and returns more the long-term success of agricul- to the need for a complementary than a dollar of state funds. ture in Lancaster County. But they preservation option for plain sect were also concerned that they farmers who were reluctant to But of all the Agricultural Preserve might be the only ones to preserve take part in a government funded Board’s partners, none are more their farms. What if farmland pres- program. To date, Lancaster important than the farmers who ervation never catches on among Farmland Trust has preserved more make the commitment to preserve other farmers? What if agricultural than 500 farms, proving to be an their farms. Farmers volunteer to zoning isn’t adopted and neigh- invaluable partner in the county’s permanently restrict their farm boring farms are all sold for devel- farmland preservation effort. to agricultural use and to limit opment? What if public support Recognizing the value of a private the future potential value of their for farmland preservation wanes farmland preservation program, farm. Many also offer to preserve and the county stops funding the the Board of Commissioners their farms at a bargain sale and to Agricultural Preserve Board? Would provides an annual challenge grant accept a lower payment. Bargain their preserved farm become an to Lancaster Farmland Trust. Since sales bring the average payment island in a sea of development? 2001, that challenge grant alone made to farmers for preserving has resulted in the preservation their farms to 90% of the value, The preservation of 1,000 farms of 216 farms and leveraged more leveraging the county’s resources represents Lancaster County’s than $46 million in private funds even further, and allowing for the unfading commitment to agricul- and landowner contributions. preservation of one or two addi- ture and farmland preservation. tional farms each year. It makes good on the promises The Agricultural Preserve Board’s made to those first pioneers. It most significant preservation UNFADING was, and will remain, a team effort. partner, in terms of funding, is COMMITMENT TO A team of nonfarming public who the Pennsylvania Department of PRESERVATION recognize the value of farming, Agriculture and the Bureau of community volunteers serving on Farmland Preservation. In 1989, Through 30 years of partnerships, boards and committees, township Lancaster County’s farmland pres- Lancaster County reached a mile- supervisors making difficult land ervation program became the first stone the original members of the use decisions, county commission- authorized by the Department of Agricultural Preserve Board could ers and state and federal legisla- Agriculture and the first farm in the only dream about—the preser- tors balancing budgets, and most county-state farmland preservation vation of 1,000 farms. It is a mile- importantly, Lancaster County program was preserved in Lancast- stone even more significant than farmers. er. Since that time, Lancaster Coun- the number of farms and acres of ty has leveraged its own funding agricultural land it represents. It is every year through the state’s significant because of the promise farmland preservation program, it fulfills.
18 PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY NEWS | SPRING 2020 www.pacounties.org 19 877-968-6430
20 PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY NEWS | SPRING 2020 An Ounce of Prevention
Penn State helping to safeguard the health of animals, people, and the state’s agriculture.
Chuck Gill Public Relations Specialist Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences
he case was submitted those fowl also made their way to Agriculture also was investigat- by the Pennsylvania Wallner-Pendleton. ing separate suspected cases of Game Commission. Three encephalitis in horses in Carbon, wild turkeys were acting As a clinical associate professor Luzerne, and Mercer counties. T and avian pathologist at Penn strangely, stumbling around a backyard in suburban Erie. A State’s Animal Diagnostic Labora- QUICK DIAGNOSIS wildlife officer captured one of tory, Wallner-Pendleton performed them, and soon the bird—by now necropsies on the birds, the brains In all of these cases, the PCR test- deceased—arrived in the lab of of which showed microscopic ing came back positive for Eastern Eva Wallner-Pendleton. evidence of encephalitis. Because equine encephalitis, often referred encephalitis has several potential to as EEE, a serious mosqui- At about the same time last fall, causes, samples underwent further to-borne viral disease that is known Wallner-Pendleton received re- examination using a polymerase to strike, as its name implies, hors- ports of sick birds at a pheasant chain reaction (PCR) test, a tool es. However, the pathogen also can operation on the other side of the that allows specific and rapid diag- affect upland game birds, wild tur- state, in Monroe County. Before nosis of infectious diseases caused keys, and rarely people. Only about their death, they appeared to have by viruses and bacteria. Meanwhile, 4-5% of people who get the virus neurological issues, and a few of the Pennsylvania Department of develop encephalitis, but of those
www.pacounties.org 21 who do, roughly 30% will die, and survivors may suffer permanent neurological problems.
An average of about seven hu- man cases of EEE occur annually in the United States, but as of mid-December, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention re- ported 38 confirmed cases in 2019, mostly in the Northeast, mid-At- lantic, and Michigan, including 15 deaths. Although no human cases were reported in Pennsylvania, the quick diagnosis of the virus in an- imals enabled agriculture officials and Penn State Extension to issue timely warnings to residents—and in particular horse owners—to pro- With help from farmers across the commonwealth, Penn State’s Animal Diagnostic Lab is tect their animals and themselves prepared to respond quickly to disease threats. Photo: Michael Houtz from mosquitoes to reduce the risk of contracting the disease. University of Pennsylvania’s New “We performed nearly 71,000 tests PADLS Bolton Center in Kennett Square. for avian flu in the past year,” said Together, the three labs each year Wallner-Pendleton. “We’ve recent- This sudden spike in EEE cases perform more than a half million ly seen about a 30 % increase in spotlights the important role of tests for all animal diseases. What submissions from sources such as Penn State’s College of Agricultur- sets the Penn State lab apart is the Game Commission, veterinari- al Sciences, the college’s Animal its connection to the university’s ans, and owners of both commer- Diagnostic Lab, and Penn State land-grant research, extension, and cial and small pet flocks. Also, with Extension in disease surveillance, educational enterprises. small ‘backyard’ flocks rising in diagnosis, preparedness and popularity, we’re sometimes seeing The $1.7 billion poultry industry, response. The college’s scientific diseases that we haven’t seen in Pennsylvania’s second largest expertise, research infrastructure, years. Because these birds typically agricultural sector after dairy, relies and educational networks combine are outdoors, they’re encountering heavily on PADLS for surveillance to help create a powerful bulwark things that up until a few years ago and diagnostic services related that protects and promotes animal were fairly rare.” to poultry diseases, such as avian and human health, as well as the influenza. The state has been on economic success and sustainabili- A RARE DISEASE high alert for avian flu after a major ty of Pennsylvania’s animal-agricul- 2014-2015 outbreak, mostly in the One such disease is avian coryza, ture industries. Midwest, led to the death of more a bacterial respiratory infection. The Animal Diagnostic Lab is a than 50 million turkeys and laying Infected chickens display symptoms keystone in that effort. The lab is hens in 21 states, with estimated similar to a severe head cold: facial part of the state-funded Pennsyl- economic impacts in the billions swelling, discharge from the nose vania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory of dollars. The Keystone State and eyes, sneezing, and coughing. System (PADLS) which also in- was spared during that outbreak, Feed intake is decreased, slowing cludes the Pennsylvania Veterinary but because avian flu viruses are broilers’ growth rate and delaying Laboratory at the Department of carried by migrating waterfowl, the their market age, and layers will Agriculture in Harrisburg and the threat is ever-present. show a sharp drop in egg produc-
22 PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY NEWS | SPRING 2020 tion—as much as 40%. The illness received fast-track approval from programs. He highlights the fact typically is not fatal, but producers the Pennsylvania Animal Health that nearly 70% of Pennsylvania’s must absorb the costs of lost pro- and Diagnostic Commission. agricultural receipts come from duction and needed veterinary care, animal ag, and with razor-thin mar- such as antibiotics and vaccination. “The outbreak started in late De- gins, producers who lose produc- cember of 2018, and by June we tion to disease—even if not fatal “We’ve seen more than 60 cas- could offer this test, which is the to animals—may have their profits es of coryza across Pennsylvania first probe-based PCR assay for wiped out. since early 2019,” Wallner-Pend- this disease in the world,” he said. leton said. “That’s very unusual. “Now, many states are sending “When we ask the swine and This is an illness that typically is samples to us, and we earned the poultry industries what their top more of a problem on the West trust of the poultry industry, which priorities are for partnering with Coast and in the South, and only knows when they face a crisis, Penn extension to address, the first one occasionally in the Northeast. An State has the capability to step in is animal health, including biose- outbreak like this is unprecedent- and help find solutions.” curity and disease monitoring and ed, and we still don’t completely prevention,” said Swartz. “Educa- understand how it’s spreading all The availability of the new rapid tion on biosecurity and disease over the state.” test, Wallner-Pendleton noted, detection is part of almost every means that clients sending sus- livestock and poultry program we Microbiologist Suresh Kuchipu- pected cases of coryza to the Penn offer.” di is among college researchers State lab now can expect to receive studying these coryza outbreaks. results within two days—a critical That includes 4-H, Swartz said. A clinical professor of veterinary factor in limiting the spread of the “The co-mingling of show animals and biomedical sciences and disease. at a place like the Pennsylvania assistant director of the Animal Farm Show or a large county fair is Diagnostic Lab, he led an effort BIOSECURITY ON FARMS an incredible risk for disease trans- to develop a real-time PCR test mission. We push biosecurity infor- for coryza to speed diagnosis and With information from the coryza mation out to every 4-H member get a handle on how the patho- genome sequencing in hand, sci- that does an animal science proj- gen is spreading. entists determined that the same ect, and we educate them about pathogen—rather than unique the signs of disease to look for in “Until recently, the only labs that strains—has been involved in cases their animals. That’s a very import- had a confirmatory test for coryza around the state, indicating that ant part of their 4-H education.” were in Georgia and California,” farm-to-farm transfer likely is the Kuchipudi said. “We were sending primary avenue of infection. And Swartz points out that biosecurity samples to Georgia, which added that illustrates the critical need for is a challenge for many produc- costs for shipping, and we had to sound biosecurity on farms, which ers. “These operations depend on wait four to six weeks for results. researchers and extension special- so many partners, such as service At the same time, there was sig- ists say is the single most effective people who are bringing feed, nificant concern from the poultry method for keeping flocks and supplies, and new animals onto the industry, which needed answers to herds healthy. farm,” he said. “And that means respond to this emergency.” they’re dependent on those service The importance of biosecurity in and delivery partners to follow Kuchipudi first worked with other safeguarding the health of food biosecurity protocols and maintain labs and college experts to se- animals becomes apparent when vigilance as well. Producers also quence the genome of the coryza you consider the economic con- need to instill biosecurity aware- pathogen in a matter of a few tributions of animal agriculture ness in their workforce—they really months. Using this sequencing, in Pennsylvania, contends David depend on their farm managers his team developed an assay for Swartz, Penn State Extension as- and workers to do the right thing coryza, which was validated and sistant director for animal systems every single day with no let up.”
www.pacounties.org 23 DISEASE FROM ABROAD procedures will be triggered in a animals are treated promptly and potential Pennsylvania outbreak. properly to prevent and minimize Elizabeth Hines says animal health But protecting the state’s pigs disease spread within your herd. and biosecurity long have been starts with biosecurity, which Hines “Biosecurity protocols may seem high priorities for pig producers, promotes as she works with pro- inconvenient but taking a couple but they are especially “top-of- ducers on production and man- extra steps to protect your herd mind” with the current threat of agement issues in her role as an can be one of the best investments African swine fever looming over extension swine specialist. you make.” swine herds around the world. The assistant professor of animal sci- “For swine farmers and other live- Last fall, PA Pork’s Strategic In- ence serves on a state-led African stock producers, it’s really about vestment Program funded eight swine fever task force, which is controlling, to the best of their workshops in which Hines walked planning for how the state would ability, what interacts with their an- producers through the Secure Pork respond should this devastating imals,” Hines said. “It’s about put- Supply initiative, which focuses on disease come to American shores. ting hurdles in front of pathogens building an advanced biosecurity or anything else that may threaten plan. The voluntary program helps So far, African swine fever, which animal health. You don’t want to producers to protect their herds is not a threat to people, has killed allow people onto your premises and stay in business in the event or led to the culling of hundreds who may carry an animal disease of an infectious disease outbreak, of millions of swine in Asia and from another farm. Washing or during which government regu- Europe, amounting to roughly a disinfecting of shoes and vehicles latory agencies would limit the quarter of the world’s domestic and buying feed from a reputable movement of animals and animal pigs. The viral disease has roiled feed mill that has quality control products to control disease spread. global pork markets and caused are great first steps to protect- “For many producers who partic- shortages in many countries. Hines ing the health of your herd from ipated in the workshops, this was said the task force has concentrat- outside threats. Make sure ani- the first time they had a written ed heavily on what protocols and mals are vaccinated and that sick biosecurity plan,” she said.
24 PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY NEWS | SPRING 2020 WELL POSITIONED Extension is well positioned to A key asset that Penn State Ex- support government agencies in tension brings to its partnerships Hines also is working with the response. While the Pennsylva- with government agencies and the Kuchipudi to expand linkages nia Department of Agriculture and animal-ag industry is its statewide between the Animal Diagnostic USDA may impose quarantines and presence, according to Swartz. Lab and Penn State Extension restrict the movement of animals, “We have people across the state, related to diseases affecting pigs, extension specialists and coun- and we are requiring all our ed- and the two are developing a ty-based educators will provide ucators to learn about animal swine health short course that expertise and local knowledge. diseases, even for species outside Hines hopes to offer to producers their regular program areas,” he for the first time in spring 2020. “Educators may have knowledge said. “I want our dairy educators of a specific swine operation and to have a working knowledge of The Extension Poultry Team is may be called upon to consult,” African swine fever. I want our involved in similar efforts, Swartz Hines said. “They can advise on equine educators to have a work- said. Members of the team serve how a farm is set up or the age of ing knowledge of avian flu. I want on a state avian flu task force and the animals at the site, which can all the people in our system who hold a poultry health meeting influence the exact response plan. have animal science responsibilities eight times per year in Lancaster We also have educators that are to have cross-training and baseline to update industry leaders on new trained on methods for depopulat- knowledge so they’re able to more research and disease information. ing a herd or flock and composting quickly respond to what’s in front or otherwise disposing of a poten- As a result, if an outbreak of Afri- of them.” tially large number of carcasses, if can swine fever, avian flu, or other that would become necessary.” major disease occurs, Penn State
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26 PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY NEWS | SPRING 2020 The Current State of Recycling
in Pennsylvania
Jodi Brennan Clearfield County Recycling Coordinator
ecycling in Pennsylvania So, how far have we come and ACCESS TO RECYCLING was kicked into gear what remains to be achieved? back in 1988 with Today, more than 11.6 million res- the passage of the Your county recycling coordinator idents, at least 94% of the state’s R is a great resource. These folks Municipal Waste Planning population, have access to recy- Recycling and Waste Reduction have their finger on the pulse of cling. About 79% have convenient Act (Act 101). The Act requires recycling in your county. access to recycling through about 1,050 curb-side pickup programs. certain communities, based on Coming from a county recycling co- Since Pennsylvania is largely rural, population, to recycle. It further ordinator perspective this article is 870 drop-off programs extend requires each county to develop designed to give the reader a snap- recycling to a number of additional county plans to manage its own shot of what recycling looks like communities. While 94% access is wastes and assure a minimum of today, the challenges, the opportu- good, we still have underserved ten years disposal capacity. nities, and what is needed to sustain areas across the state. and grow recycling in Pennsylvania.
www.pacounties.org 27 Additionally, many municipalities stream, “Single stream recycling and counties offer recycling, com- eliminates the need to separate posting, and/or safe waste disposal your household recycling allow- programs for special materials such ing the convenience of disposing as tires, white goods, household all recyclable materials into one hazardous waste (HHW), electron- container. Although single stream ics, and yard/wood waste. allows for more types of materials to be recycled, there has been an AMOUNT OF RECYCLING increase of “wishful recycling,” this is when people believe or want Since the state started tracking an item to be accepted even if it’s recycling data the amount of tons not. This can also be observed at bottles, jugs and paper. Over recycled per year has been on the the source separated drop off sites the past decade our municipal increase. Publicly available data (predominantly for plastics). Con- solid waste (MSW) composition shows that for 2016 Pennsylvania tamination and unwanted materials has evolved. We are seeing less recycled more than 7.84 million have always been a concern, which newsprint, office paper, glass tons of recyclables, 4.80 million is why it is important to invest in containers, more plastic packaging tons in 2006 and just 2.55 mil- proper educational outreach meth- and corrugated cardboard. lion tons in 1996. So, in terms of ods. Especially since the recycling growth, we’ve seen an average markets have been down for a few Additionally, we are seeing light- increase of 75% per decade. years, it is becoming more difficult er weighted aluminum, steel and to maintain a sustainable recycling plastic containers. Packaging inno- PROGRAMS OFFERED program.” vation has resulted in the produc- tion of lightweight packaging, such One size doesn’t fit all, which is WHAT’S GETTING as multilayer, multi-resin pouches, why recycling programs differ and more products in shelf-stable across the state from curbside RECYCLED? aseptic cartons. Unfortunately, collections to public drop-off pro- Curbside and drop-off programs many recycling programs do not grams. Programs serviced by both typically accept aluminum and accept these materials due to mar- private and public sector entities steel cans, glass bottles, jars, plastic ket limitations. with some public programs relying on volunteer labor to keep their programs sustainable.
We have seen source-separated collections move to single stream collections and unstaffed drop-off sites evolve into gated card key entry only drop-off sites. Programs transition depending on the local community’s needs or available service capacity.
The biggest transition over the past decade has been a transition from source separated collection to single stream collection. Ly- coming County Recycling Coor- dinator Lauren Strausser shares with us their experience with single
28 PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY NEWS | SPRING 2020 Glass, one of the heaviest com- when you throw into the mix state While counties and municipalities modities recycled, has been recycling grants it still may not be have less available state recycling dropping from programs across enough. This is particularly true in grant dollars to draw upon to the state due to processing and less populated areas of the state. sustain their programs, state legis- contamination issues. This chang- Smaller populations equate to lators believe that the State Re- ing waste stream means material fewer mandated recycling commu- cycling Grants Fund is rich with sur- recovery facilities (MRFs) are han- nities and less private sector pro- pluses. As such these funds, along dling lighter weight materials with vided services, resulting in many with other special state funds, have less scrap value. counties filling the gap in recycling been raided routinely over the past services. number of years. These “surpluses” RECYCLING IS NOT FREE actually contain encumbered funds STATE RECYCLING already committed to many county Regardless of the type of recycling GRANT FUNDS ARE and local municipalities and are program, one thing they all have in ROUTINELY RAIDED FOR paid out over several years. common is the services are not free. NON-RECYCLING USES Sure, perhaps as a resident you don’t In recent years, the following receive a direct invoice for service The annual revenue for the State amounts were transferred from the but there most definitely are costs Recycling Grants Fund has de- State Recycling Fund to the Gen- associated with providing those creased over the years and has eral Fund: $15 million in 2008/09; services. Costs associated with the leveled out to around $38 million. $9 million in 2016/17; $15 million in collection, transportation, processing Additionally, based on the current 2017/18; and $10 million in 2019/20. and marketing of those recyclables. cost of living index, the $2/ton fee established in 1988 to fund MARKETS REVENUE FROM SALE recycling, adjusted for inflation, is One of the biggest impacts on OF RECYCLABLES & currently worth just $.97/ton. STATE GRANTS ARE recycling over the past few years INSUFFICIENT As there are fewer funds available has been China’s new waste im- the state has adjusted how much port policy (China National Sword). Revenue from the sale of recycla- they distribute and additional As one of the largest consumers bles is insufficient to financially requirements for accessing those of recyclables China has banned sustain recycling programs. Even funds have been implemented. the importation of certain types of recyclables, as well as set strict contamination limits on recyclable materials. No longer will they ac- cept shipments that are mixed with trash, the wrong type of recyclable, or low-quality recyclables.
While market fluctuation is not new to recycling, China’s new waste import policy has severely impact- ed the global market for recyclable material. The major recycling com- modities that have been impacted have been mixed paper, mixed plastics and corrugated contain- ers. It’s all about supply and de- mand. Now supply is greater than demand severely diminishing the Lycoming County Resource Management Services, Single Stream Facility value of these materials.
www.pacounties.org 29 Pierson Computing Connection, Inc.
30 PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY NEWS | SPRING 2020 CONTAMINATION & alties that came with it. Our RFP was that across Pennsylvania, the WISH-CYCLING included safeguards against pen- recycling marketplace supported alties but, overall, our current cost 175,586 jobs, stimulated $50.9 bil- While contamination has always of approximately $200,000 (both lion in sales, and produced $511.2 been an important factor in recy- Mercer and Lawrence annually) for billion in wages. Wages were 23% cling, China’s new waste import the program would have increased above the Pennsylvania average, policy restrictions on contamina- to almost $360,000. That was not sales activity was valued at $50.9 tion have been the most hurtful in an economically sustainable option billion, $22.6 billion was contrib- terms of recycling revenue. The ac- for our counties. Ultimately, we de- uted to Pennsylvania’s Gross State ceptable level of contamination in cided to eliminate the bottles, jugs, Product and $4.4 billion was paid scrap and recyclable materials not cans and jars from our program in federal, state, and local taxes. banned is now expected to have rather than close sites. Although a contamination level no greater disappointing, this change allowed When you combine the economic than 0.5%. China’s National Sword us to push forward without closing benefits with the environmen- has contributed substantially to sites while remaining within our tal benefits, also reported in this a 50% reduction in the revenues budget constraints.” study, then we have some sol- received from the sale of recycla- id compelling reasons why you bles recovered through curbside Wish-cycling, as mentioned ear- should support your local recycling recycling. lier, which is the practice of folks program. placing unacceptable items into Waste Management, a significant the recycling bin with the wish- ILLEGAL DUMPING/ collector and processor of recycla- ful thinking it gets recycled, is a ELECTRONICS (CDRA) bles in Pennsylvania notified many serious contributor to contamina- recycling coordinators across the tion. When a batch of recyclables Even with the strides we have state of the huge impact contam- is contaminated, there’s a good made in terms of providing recy- ination has had on their recycling chance it’ll be rejected and end up cling and safe disposal options for operations. Effective immediately in a landfill. Contamination drives Pennsylvanians, illegal dumping they would be rejecting obviously up costs, limits the ability to mar- continues to plague the state. If contaminated loads and eliminat- ket recyclables, and decreases the folks think illegal dumping is just a ing, where possible, glass from value of what is recycled. rural problem; think again. their recycling programs. THE BENEFITS OF Recently, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful commissioned a survey In fact, that has been the case as RECYCLING glass has dropped from a num- of nine cities on the money they ber of recycling programs over It seems that every time recy- spend to manage litter and ille- the past few years. We have also cling is faced with a challenge the gal dumping. Participating cities seen certain plastics (#3, 4, 5 and benefit of recycling is questioned. included: Allentown, Altoona, Erie, 7) be eliminated from recycling Selling folks on the environmental Harrisburg, Lancaster, Philadelphia, programs as well. Penalized thou- benefits alone is no longer suffi- Pittsburgh, Reading and Scranton. sands of dollars by their contractor cient in today’s environment where What they found was that the cities for the contamination mixed with climate change is believed by some collectively spend more than $68 the recycling, counties such as to be a hoax. It’s just as important, million/year on prevention, educa- Crawford and Erie have completely if not more so, to show the eco- tion, cleanup and enforcement to eliminated their programs. nomic benefits as well. address litter and illegal dumping, and 80% of these costs go toward This concern was echoed by Law- The Pennsylvania Recycling Mar- cleanup. rence County Recycling Coordi- kets Center (RMC) released an nator Jerry Zona, “We’ve watched economic study that evaluated Adding to an already tasking other regional programs shuttered the economic impact of recycling problem is the Covered Device Re- due to contamination and the pen- within our state. What they found cycling Act (Act 108 of 2010). The
www.pacounties.org 31 Act established free manufacturer This legislation, however, did ing, albeit perhaps offering less recycling programs for residents not work out as intended. Many services than previously. We are and a disposal ban for all covered residents across the state don’t determined to keep our programs electronic devices. The devices have access to these manufac- operational into the foreseeable covered by the law include TVs, turer-sponsored “free” electronic future. We have learned to adapt, desktop and laptop computers, recycling programs. What happens be more creative, more resource- computer monitors, and periph- when counties have no available ful, and rely more than ever on our erals (anything that connects to a electronics recycling outlet, or an communities’ continued support. computer such as a mouse, printer, affordable recycling option and keyboard, hard drive, etc.). their garbage man is not allowed The key message your county to take that old TV? Well, sadly, it recycling coordinator wants you All covered devices were to be re- has caused an upsurge in the ille- to know is that there is still strong cycled at no cost. To further ensure gal dumping of electronics. public support for recycling in these electronics were dealt with Pennsylvania regardless of age or properly, landfills and other solid In some parts of the state, resi- geographic location. Fellow Cen- waste disposal facilities could no dents travel 50+ miles to get to an tre County Recycling Coordinator longer accept these items or their e-waste recycling facility or collec- Joanne Shafer sums that message components. tion event and then end up paying up perfectly, “A whole generation 60 cents per pound for their old of Pennsylvanians have grown up television. Legislation aimed at with the concept that recycling is addressing the issue has gone no- expected. More Pennsylvanians where for way too many years. recycle than vote. But the notion that it is cost-free and self-support- According to Clinton County ing is a fallacy. With current mar- Recycling Coordinator Mike Crist, ket conditions, support for local “The Clinton County Solid Waste recycling programs is needed more Authority has offered electron- than ever. Local recycling programs ics recycling since 2005. At the mean local jobs for local people.” beginning of 2018, the Authority switched from a free residential There is still work to be done. electronics recycling program to Large quantities of marketable a fee-based program in an effort materials continue to be disposed to cope with the issues created by of instead of recycled. Legislative the CDRA. It is our opinion that the fixes are needed to address those Act should be amended to make impediments mentioned earlier electronic recycling sustainable related to sustaining recycling throughout the commonwealth. programs, providing additional One way to do this would be to recycling options to the under- remove CRT devices from the list of served, and providing convenient banned landfill materials.” and affordable access to electron- ics recycling. Opportunities exist RECYCLING PROGRAM for those recyclable materials that SUSTAINABILITY either are no longer sent overseas or currently go into a landfill. So, given the current conditions, what does the future hold for Opportunities exist to create new recycling in Pennsylvania? While products and new jobs here in the we have lost a number of recycling United States … here in our great programs along the way, many Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. of our programs are still stand-
32 PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY NEWS | SPRING 2020 The Math is Simple! CCAP Health Alliance + Your County = SAVINGS!
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Kay K. Pierce Manager, Planning Division Allegheny County Economic Development
llegheny County lies HISTORIC PATTERNS In Allegheny County, which has entirely within the Ohio 130 municipalities, water issues River Basin. Its 730 Many of the county’s water- are also an equity issue. Munici- Asquare miles is divided related problems stem from palities at the bottom of a water- into 25 major watersheds defined historic patterns of land use shed are often disproportionately under PA Act 167 (Pennsylvania and development. For example, impacted by flooding that orig- Stormwater Management Act of floodplains, streams and wetlands inates upstream. Many of these 1978), which ultimately drain to were filled in, piped or developed. municipalities are former industrial one of the county’s four major Steep, landslide-prone hillsides were river towns with aging water and rivers: the Youghiogheny, the stripped of stabilizing vegetation. sewer infrastructure, declining Monongahela, the Allegheny and Industrial-style activities, handling populations, and eroding tax the Ohio. The county’s hilly to- of sewage, erosion, uncontrolled bases. In Allegheny Places, the pography and approximately 2000 runoff and other factors impacted county’s comprehensive plan, a miles of stream further divide the water quality. While these days we county-wide Act 167 plan was rec- 25 major watersheds into numer- have a better understanding of the ommended as the most equitable ous sub-sheds. Conditions vary important relationship between and cost-effective way to ensure widely from one subshed to an- land use and water management, that all of our municipalities would other; and an estimated 772 miles changing weather patterns have have the tools they need to man- of stream are impaired. introduced a new, complex factor age stormwater runoff. into the mix.
www.pacounties.org 35 SWMOS The maximum grant amount per By the end of the program, municipality was $2,000.00, with $160,000 had been awarded to Subsequently, in December of 2017, a 25% match requirement. The 81 municipalities. Although every Allegheny County adopted a coun- funds could be used for costs municipality asked for and was ty-wide stormwater management directly associated with prepar- awarded the maximum amount, a plan (SWMP), which was approved ing and adopting a SWMO, such surprising number of municipal- by the PADEP on May 31, 2018. PA as engineering and legal reviews, ities didn’t use the full amount. Act 167 requires that municipali- legal advertising, and printing and Very few municipalities that re- ties adopt a compliant stormwater distributing the ordinance. The ceived an award never adopted a management ordinance (SWMO) application process was designed SWMO. There were also a few mu- within six months of the date of to be as simple as possible, so that nicipalities that adopted a com- that the PADEP’s approves the municipalities could apply for and pliant SWMO without any funding watershed plan. To both encourage receive a notice of award quickly. from the grant program. All told, and enable municipalities to adopt However, in order to be reim- by the end of the program 87 mu- a compliant stormwater manage- bursed for their expenses, munic- nicipalities had adopted a compli- ment ordinance, Allegheny County ipalities had to provide a copy of ant SWMO. created a “mini grant” program their adopted SWMO along with that was funded through the Al- their invoices. legheny County capital budget.
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38 PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY NEWS | SPRING 2020 S I E I T U N M M C O O U R E I N E N C F E R D I F A K E M A
Mike Price President, Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. Chair, Beaver County Conservation District
s volunteers, we give our A board of directors governs I was at the district from the time, our talent, and our conservation districts. These time of wetland construction and treasure. But what do we volunteers study county natural realized it would make a great A get in return? I’ve found resource issues and make decisions educational classroom. In the end, that what we give, we get back that enhance and protect the local the BCCD built an environmental exponentially. Through volunteering community. Each board includes center classroom and added of- with Pennsylvania’s conservation one county commissioner along fices that housed the district after districts, I’ve turned my passion with public and farmer members. we split from the county in 2004 into pride. Whether it’s educational Being a director of a county con- to become independent. From the programs, improving rural roads, servation district while working beginning, the district leadership cleaning up streams for better full-time wasn’t easy, but if you are decided that students using the fishing, or helping farmers avoid passionate about something, you classroom would do so for free. fines for polluting, conservation make time for it. Our 80-acre property and facilities districts make a difference in our include an indoor classroom and communities by ensuring there My involvement with the conser- also a picnic pavilion, restrooms, is enough clean water for future vation district and environmental hiking trails, wetlands, meadow, generations. I’m proud to be education began when I found out woodlands, and access to Rac- leading this effort in Pennsylvania. I that wetlands at the Pittsburgh coon Creek. We hold fundraisers was working full-time for the Ricoh airport were being mitigated. The throughout the year to ensure Company when I was asked to be BCCD handled the process. My that the only cost to schools to an associate member of the Beaver wife encouraged me to get more visit the center is the cost of bus County Conservation District involved with the conservation transportation. (BCCD) in 1996. A year later, I was a district because she saw how pas- full director member of the board, sionate I was about the project. and in 2004 I became chairman of the board.
www.pacounties.org 39 DISTRICTS EVOLVING districts bring conservation prac- tices to landowners quicker than Conservation districts work ever before. Each county in Penn- to better the community as a sylvania has a conservation district whole. They help citizens identify except Philadelphia. That’s 66 available natural resources and offices around the state tackling establish plans for their wise pollution issues in their backyard. Conservation use. Many conservation districts The fact that conservation dis- have delegated agreements with tricts are locally led is their key to districts were partners to further conservation success. Who knows the problems initially established efforts in Pennsylvania. Since each facing our communities better county faces different challenges, than those that live and work to promote the the local conservation district office there? Conservation districts were can address those specific needs. initially established to promote value of conserving Examples include helping horse the value of conserving soil and soil and water to owners in southeast Pennsylvania water to farmers. Today’s districts write a manure management plan have evolved; their areas of inter- farmers. Today’s which is required by law. In central est and expertise involve almost Pennsylvania, stream erosion and every area of natural resource districts have flooding may be the biggest issue conservation imaginable. evolved; their areas facing a county. In northern parts of the state, conservation districts ENVIROTHON of interest and stand ready to help the timber industry do their work with the Education is woven throughout expertise involve least amount of impact on the what we do at conservation dis- almost every area forest ecosystem. In south-central tricts. An annual program we do Pennsylvania, the biggest concern for students is the Envirothon. The of natural resource may be the erosion of farm fields Envirothon is a competition where conservation and staff have the knowledge five-member teams participate and access to equipment to in a series of tests that focus on imaginable. help farmers keep more of their five topic areas - soils and land valuable topsoil in place. In western use, aquatic ecology, forestry, Pennsylvania, district staff may find wildlife and environmental issues. that poorly maintained dirt roads The district hosts the county level pollute streams, and they have the competition. The winner of the funding and knowledge to help county level competition is then their county solve this problem. sent to represent their county at the Pennsylvania State Envirothon. As a conservation district director, These kids are sharp! Kudos to the I see first-hand how conservation kids because it is not an easy test. The winners get scholarships, so the stakes are high.
40 PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY NEWS | SPRING 2020 DIRT, GRAVEL, AND STREAM CLEANUPS mental laws. They work with con- LOW VOLUME ROAD struction companies to make sure PROGRAM On September 7, 2019, the BCCD they are using best management hosted a stream cleanup on a practices to reduce pollution and The Dirt, Gravel, and Low Volume tributary to Big Sewickley Creek. It avoid costly fines. Road Program began in 1997 from is a vital creek that people use for a dirt and gravel road initiative fishing, swimming, bird watching The BCCD purchased a no-till drill by Trout Unlimited in conjunction and many other outdoor activities. that is available for rent to interest- with Penn State’s Center for Dirt The tributary runs along Cooney ed farmers in Beaver County. The and Gravel Roads, the State Con- Hollow Road, which is a problem purpose of the drill rental program servation Commission and local area for people dumping their is to encourage and assist farmers conservation districts. The goal of trash. Twenty-two volunteers in implementing no-till crop pro- the program is to reduce pollution attended. Together they cleaned duction systems, including cover to nearby streams while improving up an estimated 30 tires, 20 tele- crops, as well as promote better the rural road network. One of visions and other miscellaneous pasture management. Reducing the qualification requirements of items which were discarded in the tillage can improve soil health and the program is to direct funding stream and surrounding areas. Ev- improve farm economics. Renting to “worksites” where road runoff eryone at the stream cleanup had this drill provides farmers with a is affecting water quality of the fun spending time outdoors doing low-cost opportunity to try no-till nearby stream. As a result of Act their part to clean the stream. planting and determine if it can be 89 (PA Gas Tax), additional funding Many conservation districts host an asset to farm management. similar, successful events. has been allocated to the pro- Renting the no-till drill from the gram, which will now include Low AGRICULTURE conservation district provides a Volume Roads (<500 vehicles per cost-effective tool to try planting a day). Technical assistance is avail- Soil is an ecosystem with many cover crop. Additionally, all farms able and provided by the Center living organisms. Soil health is man- that are tilling greater than 5,000 for Dirt and Gravel Road studies aging the soil to improve ecosystem sq. ft. must have a conservation and the conservation district. function. All crops have their roots plan. All farming operations that in the soil ecosystem. It is necessary apply manure need to develop and to improve soil health to improve implement a manure management crop yields. No-till planting is key to plan. Conservation districts support improving soil health and planting farmers in developing these plans. cover crops provide energy and other benefits to the soil.
Conservation districts help farmers ensure they comply with environ-
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42 PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY NEWS | SPRING 2020 STATE ASSOCIATION
In July 2019, I was elected President information and help on matters of the Pennsylvania Association of such as reducing soil erosion, Conservation Districts (PACD). Our protecting water quality, acid mine state association represents all the drainage or preventing hazardous Like the County districts on the state and national situations such as floods. levels. I lead the board of directors, Commissioners which helps set the grassroots poli- Like the County Commissioners cy that guides the association. Association of Pennsylvania, conser- Association of vation districts work to improve the Our strength comes from part- well-being and quality of life for ev- Pennsylvania, nerships with agencies and or- ery Pennsylvania resident. Let’s work conservation ganizations such as the County together toward our common goal. Commissioners Association of districts work to Pennsylvania, USDA Natural Re- HOW YOU CAN HELP sources Conservation Service, and improve the well- the Pennsylvania Department of County commissioners can sup- being and quality Environmental Protection. Togeth- port their conservation district by er, we can put more boots on the making sure the district has the of life for every ground to implement locally led best leadership in its directors Pennsylvania conservation activities. as possible. Commissioners can support districts by including them resident. Let’s work I am honored to be part of PACD’s in the county budget financially, or executive board. It’s a high honor through in-kind services. Also, talk together toward to be chosen to lead the state’s to legislators to make sure they ar- conservation districts. The state en’t forgotten in the state budget. our common goal. association goes above and be- Commissioners can support farm- yond to make sure the conserva- ers and their agricultural products tion district directors are trained in in their county. Without farms, we leadership, and staff is trained in will starve, period. For more infor- technical subjects. mation on conservation districts, visit www.pacd.org. Conservation districts stand ready to offer technical assistance and ed- ucational guidance to landowners and managers, local governments, teachers, students and people from every walk of life. They can provide
www.pacounties.org 43 FOCUS ON Potter County
Rustic wooden signs reading “God’s Country” greet 16,600 as of 2018, a 9% drop since the beginning of visitors at each of the four gateways to Potter County, the century, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. situated at the peak of the Pennsylvania triangle on Meanwhile, the county’s median age ratchets up with the New York State border. Despite its religious over- every census report. It stood at 46.7 years in 2017; the tones, the reference is meant to highlight the bounti- national figure was 38.0. ful natural resources within the county’s borders and the strong sense of community that binds together PERSEVERANCE its citizens. With the dawn of a new decade, Potter County lead- Tourism promoters long ago recognized that these ers have resolved to do something about it. They’ve assets are marketable. To some, they recall the bucolic launched “Project 2025.” It’s a full-scale mission to small-town lifestyle epitomized by TV series such as reverse the population loss and retain and slow the The Andy Griffith Show. Deer hunters, trout anglers and outmigration of the county’s young adults. The goal outdoor enthusiasts began flocking to Potter County is to produce measurable results that are reflected in after World War II and they’re still coming. In more the mid-decade census figures. recent years, the county is seeing an influx of a de- mographic often referred to as “active, younger adults” It won’t be easy, but county leaders are undaunted. establishing seasonal homes in the mountains which And that’s nothing new. Potter County’s government offer a respite from a faster-paced life downstate. has earned the respect of its peers for its persever- ance and ability to overcome obstacles. While tourism is holding its own as the county’s sec- ond-leading industry, trailing only agriculture/forest “One of our biggest challenges is that we’re rural,” products, other sectors of the economy have been said Doug Morley, a lifelong Potter County resident declining. As a result, Potter County’s population has who completed a 12-year career on the Board of continued to spiral downward. It stood just north of Commissioners in 2019. “But, at the same time, one
44 PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY NEWS | SPRING 2020 Photos by Curt Weinhold.
Top Photo: Kori and John Ditty are dressed for the Roaring ‘20s at Coudersport’s Eliot Ness Fest and the new Eliot Ness Museum.
Bottom Photo: Lyman Run State Park.
the local UPMC hospital, are multi-generational na- tives of the county. Ellen earned a Master of Business Administration degree and was working with a health care agency when she saw the county’s advertisement for a community development director in 2019.
“I jumped at the chance,” she recalled. “Both Garrett and I experienced life in more populous areas, and we were fortunate enough to get good educations. But we both realized that the things in life that were the most important to us were right back where we came from.” NATURE AND COMMUNITY
And it’s not just those with local roots who have been drawn to Potter County. John and Kori Ditty, a young of our greatest strengths is that we’re rural. We know couple from the Philadelphia suburbs, picked up a how to ‘do more with less.’ We are small enough that dart and threw it at a map of rural Pennsylvania. It we can work together to solve a problem because, landed just outside of Coudersport. really, we have to. We’ve become resourceful because people here know each other.” The Dittys say things couldn’t have worked out bet- ter. They both found jobs, and they frequently smile The two department heads who have been charged at social media messages from downstate friends by current Commissioners Nancy Grupp, Paul Heimel who envy their new lifestyle. Kori and John knew they and Barry Hayman to spearhead Project 2025—Plan- were searching for—an area where they felt safe and ning Director Will Hunt and Community Development connected to both nature and their community. Director Ellen Russell—are natural ambassadors. They’ve made local friends, and most recently they Hunt worked for the GIS Department in adjacent have signed on to portray Roaring ‘20s characters Tioga County and served on the town council in for Coudersport’s Eliot Ness Fest and at the new Tioga Borough when he heard the call of God’s Eliot Ness Museum downtown. They appreciate what Country. He initially commuted to work as Planning/ Kori describes as the “aura of Potter County” - its GIS Director in the county seat of Coudersport, but clean air and water, the lack of congestion and the it wasn’t long before Hunt bought a home on a rural therapeutic impact of spending time outdoors. The road and moved there with his family of five. Dittys have also joined the growing legion of regular “We love it here,” Hunt said with a smile. “The kids visitors to the Cherry Springs State Park Interna- have adjusted well to the new school and we spend a tional Dark Sky Preserve. They’ve hosted downstate lot of time in the outdoors, sort of bonding as a fam- guests who have joined them in marveling at the ily. My wife is taking classes to become a real estate wonders of the night sky. agent and we feel right at home.” When asked if they expect to ever return to the Russell’s appreciation of Potter County is home-grown. suburbs, both were quick to respond in near unison, She and her husband Garrett, a physician assistant at “Absolutely not! This is home now.”
www.pacounties.org 45 CONNECTED
So just what does a quiet, rural county such as Potter have to offer for young adults who grew up there and young families looking for a new home?
In addition to the abundance of outdoor recreational activities and small-town charm, Potter County has broader internet coverage than most rural areas. All of its larger communities are wired, and an aggres- sive broadband expansion project launched in 2019 by the local electric cooperative will bring service to more remote areas. Research confirms that internet access is a prerequisite for the lifestyles and work demands of younger adults and professionals look- ing to relocate. Potter County is seeing an influx of people who can work in their homes, connected to Coudersport, the county seat. corporate offices or other distant workplaces.
That growth potential is prominently recognized in the 2020-29 Potter County Comprehensive Plan, which calls for public/private initiatives to support businesses that capitalize on telecommuting, tourism and manufacturing, particularly in the forest products
Putting Potter County on the map
Crimefighter Eliot Ness spent the final years of his life there and actor Gabby Hayes lived there for a while. World-famous Norwegian violinist Ole Bull established a colony for his countrymen here. The Brinks Gang broke into a local clothier while they were on the lam. And tourist promoters in- sist that “The Ice Mine Eighth Wonder of the World”—a magic valley where ice forms in the summer and melts in the winter—can be found here.
Those are among the headliners that have put Potter County on the map over the years.
More recently, Potter County has been recognized for some significant achievements by its county government: • Pennsylvania Governor’s Award for Local Govern- • 2017 International Special Achievement in GIS ment Excellence (2015) for Environmental Steward- Award from Environmental Systems Research ship; honoring the Triple Divide Watershed Coa- Institute (Esri) for effective use of GIS technology, lition, dedicated to protecting all of the county’s presented to the Potter County Planning/GIS De- public drinking water sources. partment. The GIS services supported the Pa. State • National Association of Counties Excellence Award Land Tax Fairness Coalition’s successful campaign (2017) for innovative criminal justice reform mea- to increase payment-in-lieu-of-taxes on state- sures; “Smart Justice: If it’s broke, FIX IT!” owned land. • National Association of Counties Excellence Award (2018) for exemplary service to military veterans; “No Veteran Left Behind.”
46 PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY NEWS | SPRING 2020 SINCE 2004, NACo’S LIVE HEALTHY PRESCRIPTION DISCOUNT PROGRAM HAS SEEN:
$700 MILLION SAVED 50 MILLION PRESCRIPTIONS FILLED OVER 1,300 COUNTIES PARTICIPATING
Things are hopping at the frog-jumping contest at the annual Behind each of these numbers is a county resident who “Barkpeelers Convention,” hosted by the Pennsylvania Lumber was helped by the Live Healthy program. Each dollar saved is money in the pocket of a county resident strug- Museum, to relive the rollicking Lumber Era (1890-1910) in gling with the high costs of prescription drugs. northcentral Pennsylvania. and powdered metals industries, as well as energy pro- Contact NACo to join duction, from rich natural gas reserves to wind and solar the program and get free energy opportunities, and a diverse agricultural foundation. marketing resources to ensure this essential cost- For decades, dairy farms and potato fields dominated the saving program reaches landscape in the county’s northern sector. Growers from more people in your county. across the nation gathered annual at “Camp Potato” and “Potato City Motor Inn” for conventions. Prominent agri- cultural researchers used the high-altitude fields on the Join the Live Healthy Eastern Continental Divide in Potter County for seed trials program, to save your and cold-climate growing experiments. residents an average of 29%* off retail prescription prices. Today’s agriculture is dominated more by hay and grains, although some active potato farmers have found a ready market with chip manufacturers. Thousands of acres have been acquired by Amish farmers who have relocated from southeastern Pennsylvania. A handful of certified organic farms have sprung up over the past decade. At the same time, maple syrup producers are growing more sophisticat- ed in their marketing activities; just 10% of Potter County’s maple trees are tapped. www.naco.org/health • 1-888-407-6226 DEMAND AND INNOVATIONS The Live Healthy discount The Comprehensive Plan recognizes growth potential for program is NOT insurance. *Savings may vary by drug local agriculture, capitalizing on a growing demand for and by pharmacy. The organic food and home-grown food in general. Local food Prescription Discount Card is operated by CVS processing, agritourism and farmers’ markets are all part of Caremark®. The Discount the blueprint. Medical Organization for NACo Health and Dental Discounts is Alliance With 40% of the county’s total acreage consisting of state HealthCard of Florida, Inc. All rights reserved. forest, park or game lands, there’s little chance that Potter ®2018 CVS Caremark County will ever lose its rural appeal. However, the county is not immune to some of society’s major challenges.
www.pacounties.org 47 The national opioid epidemic has spawned innovations the safety net is not frayed. For example, one very rural such as District Attorney Andy Watson’s “CLEAN Pro- school district has become the primary food source for tocol,” short for Concerned Law Enforcement Against many families. The county has supported a “weekend Narcotics. After researching a similar initiative in Mas- meal backpack” that students carry home each Friday sachusetts, the D.A. developed guidelines for police to afternoon to tide them over until Monday. serve as referral points for addicts seeking treatment. As in many rural areas, good-paying jobs can be “Obviously, there are limitations to CLEAN – with ex- hard to find in Potter County. While there are gainful ceptions for those who under active investigation for employment opportunities in health care, energy and criminal activity and other factors - but this protocol some other sectors, many of the jobs that are typical- is a sensible alternative to the more traditional law ly available are entry-level. enforcement,” Watson explained. “It’s an approach that’s similar to our DUI and Drug Specialty Courts, That’s not unusual, according to Will Hunt. “In our with a goal of seeing people recover from addiction Comprehensive Plan development, we found that and become productive members of society.” many people look at it as a trade-off,” Hunt explained. “Once they reach a certain age, typically their early Potter County’s poverty rate is above the national 30s, they have a different definition of ‘standard of average. The county’s Human Services Department has living.’ They’re willing to forego the goal of getting rich responded with a series of measures to make certain in favor of having a better overall quality of life.”
Potter County’s Mission: ‘Project 2025’ leaders, business owners, conservation advocates, education and tourism officials, and others with an A strategy to address two of the most serious chal- interest in the county’s future. lenges facing Potter County is now in the implemen- tation stage. “Project 2025” was launched in January “Project 2025 is going to require a real team approach 2020, just two weeks after Commissioners Nancy and some changes in culture,” Russell explained. “Too Grupp, Paul Heimel and Barry Hayman were sworn often we hear the words, ‘because we’ve always done into office. It’s a blueprint to reverse the steady de- it this way,’ and that is a mindset that will have to scent of the county’s population, coupled with the change if we are going to succeed.” growing outmigration of young adults. Among the initial objectives that have been These trends have serious implications for the fu- identified are: ture vitality and quality of life in Potter County. Most • More effectively seeking input from teens and recent U.S. Census Bureau figures reflect another 5% young adults on the future of their communities; drop in population, from 17,462 in 2010 to 16,622 as of June 2019. At the same time, the county’s medi- • Supporting a complete count in the 2020 U.S. Census; an age has gradually risen to 47 years, far above the • Capitalizing on the emergence of high-speed inter- statewide median of 41. net service in marketing Potter County as a place to live and start or expand a business; The commissioners have assigned Planning/GIS Director Will Hunt and Community Development Director Ellen • Enhancing promotion of state parks, attractions, Russell to develop and implement Project 2025. Its lofty and natural resources for tourism and relocation to goal is to assemble stakeholders, conduct intensive re- the county; search, and implement a strategy to reverse the popula- • Implementing business and economic development tion loss and median age growth by the end of 2025. strategies, kicking off with a Small Business/ Entrepreneur Workshop; Some of the options are spelled out in the 2020-29 Potter County Comprehensive Plan. That document • Developing innovative strategies to enhance local reflects input provided by hundreds of community career exploration for both high school students and adults.
48 PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY NEWS | SPRING 2020 $54 Million
The amount CCAP’s Insurance Programs gave back to members over the last seven years in dividends and grants. Just another benefit of belonging to a public entity risk pool!
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www.pacounties.org 49 HEALTHY WATERS, HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
Pennsylvania’s County-Based Plan for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Neil Shader Director of Communications Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Healthy streams and rivers not only provide a source of drinking water, but also serve enormous farming, commercial, and industry uses in Pennsylvania. They contribute to an outdoor recreation indus- try that delivers millions of jobs and about $13 billion to the state economy annually. Healthy waters also support thriving communities, as people increasingly look to live near access to green space.
Agricultural, business, and resi- dential development has changed Pennsylvania’s landscape over de- cades. Natural areas have been re- placed with compacted soil, park- ing lots, roads, roofs, and other hard surfaces. Rainfall that should soak into the ground instead runs off these surfaces, carrying pol- PENNSYLVANIA’S PLAN nutrient and sediment reductions lutants into streams, rivers, and FOR THE CHESAPEAKE needed in the county. It presents lakes. Excessive eroded sediment BAY WATERSHED a framework to help local teams and two nutrients that come from develop and implement County- fertilizer—nitrogen and phospho- The U.S. Environmental Protection wide Action Plans to achieve these rus—are key runoff pollutants. Agency (EPA) has calculated the reductions. Agriculture, forestry, amounts of nutrients and sediment stormwater management, and Today over 25,400 miles of water that Pennsylvania is sending into wastewater treatment are main are impaired in Pennsylvania, and the Chesapeake Bay, and requires areas of focus. more than 12,700 of them are in us to lower them by 2025: the 43 counties that lie entirely or Counties are grouped into four • Nitrogen: Reduce by 34 million tiers, depending on their nutrient partially in the Chesapeake Bay pounds/year Watershed. and sediment runoff amounts. • Phosphorus: Reduce by 0.765 Counties that generate the most An unprecedented multi-partner million pounds/year runoff form Tier 1 and completed initiative is underway that helps • Sediment: Reduce by 531 million their plans first, while counties that communities address runoff pollu- pounds/year generate the least runoff form Tier tion in Pennsylvania’s share of the 4 and will complete their plans last. watershed in the form of Pennsyl- The Phase 3 WIP breaks runoff vania’s Phase 3 Watershed Imple- pollution down by each county in State government programs are mentation Plan or just Phase 3 WIP. the watershed and identifies the working in tandem, implementing
www.pacounties.org 51 measures in agriculture, air qual- ity, brownfield redevelopment, forestry, mining, oil and gas oper- ations, stormwater, wetlands, and wastewater to reduce nutrient and sediment levels. COUNTYWIDE ACTION PLANS
The Phase 3 WIP countywide framework was developed with extensive expertise from the ground up, and it shows. Lancaster, York, Adams and Franklin Coun- ties pilot-tested the framework to complete their Countywide Action Plans, and they and many other partners provided insights that have informed and improved the plan. The result is an innovative yet ground-truthed and realis- tic framework that is energizing communities around the potential to identify and pursue additional to link local water quality improve- FROM PLANNING TO local goals, such as improving eco- ments and community goals. PROJECTS TO SUCCESS nomic development, flood protec- Four more counties are now tion, local recreation opportunities, Once the Countywide Action Plan developing their plans—Bedford, fish habitat, and more. is completed, the coordinator and Centre, Cumberland and team shift gears to getting projects DEP has developed the Clean Lebanon—and in coming months, on the ground that reduce nutri- Water Toolbox specifies sources of the Pennsylvania Department of ents and erosion in agricultural, nutrients and sediment by sector, Environmental Protection (DEP) municipal, commercial, and indus- provides maps show the locations Chesapeake Bay Office will reach trial areas and improve local water of water monitoring stations, and out to kick off the process in more and quality of life. Lancaster, York, identifies trends based on the counties. Adams, and Franklin Counties are monitoring data. Suggestions are again leading the way, breaking Developing and implementing a provided for relevant, cost-effec- ground on projects they’ve iden- Countywide Action Plan enables tive reduction methods and plan- tified in their Countywide Action counties to address local water ning and engagement resources, Plans. quality improvement proactive- and a template for the team to ly, making it part of community record planning actions and track The unprecedented partnership priorities and planning without and report progress is included. that developed Pennsylvania’s potential further regulation. Some Phase 3 WIP is driving its imple- DEP also provides staff resources county leaders have found the mentation with the same high to assist the county with develop- process creates new broad part- energy and extensive expertise. ing and implementing its County- nerships of agriculture, municipal wide Action Plan, as well as other Federal, state, county and local government, forestry, business, tools the county needs to accom- government leaders, along with and environmental advocacy lead- plish its goals. farmers, foresters, community or- ers. This presents an opportunity
52 PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY NEWS | SPRING 2020 ganizations, education institutions This year DEP, responding to coun- put projects in place, including a and environmental advocates, are ty leaders’ feedback, launched Community Clean Water Imple- working together as a state team a new block grant program with mentation Guide and online and to marshal everything they can, EPA support to make it easier for in-person training. Once they including funding sources and counties to access and use fund- begin implementing their County- technical tools and training, to help ing for projects in their County- wide Action Plan projects, counties county teams succeed wide Action Plans. Lancaster, York can use a new web portal to chart and Franklin Counties applied for their progress in reducing nutrient Many community leaders have and received grants to complete and sediment levels. endorsed Governor Wolf’s Restore projects by September 30, and Pennsylvania initiative as a poten- the goal is for DEP to award these If this sounds like a whole new tial source of large-scale funding. block grants to counties annually, level of excitement in improving If passed by the legislature, would as they make progress. local water quality in Pennsylva- invest $4.5 billion statewide in nia, it is. And it’s fueled by county resources for water quality as well More funding is available to leaders and stakeholders. Counties as blighted properties, internet counties from the DEP Growing have played a key role in planning access, storm preparedness, and Greener and Agricultural Plan the Phase 3 WIP, are central to disaster recovery. Reimbursement Programs, the enacting change on the ground, Department of Conservation and and have much to be proud of as EXPANDED FUNDING Natural Resources Community Pennsylvanians work together for Conservation Partnerships Pro- healthy waters and healthy com- In the meantime, state agencies are gram, the Keystone Tree Fund, and munities in 2025 and beyond. providing as much funding as they other sources. To bring them all can. The 2019 Pennsylvania Farm together, PENNVEST is developing Bill, a historic $23.1 million invest- a new one-stop shop of resources ment, includes new and expanded called the Center for Water Quality conservation funding, including Excellence for landowners working grants to assist farmers in the to reduce runoff pollution. Chesapeake Bay Watershed with implementing best management Likewise, partners are developing practices. innovative tools to help counties
LEARN MORE
• Pennsylvania’s Phase 3 WIP and Countywide Action Plans: www.dep.pa.gov/chesapeakebay/phase3 • Reducing runoff pollution in Pennsylvania’s share of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed: www.dep.pa.gov/chesapeakebaywatershed • Three counties’ take-aways from their Countywide Action Planning experiences: Lancaster: www.dep.pa.gov/OurCommonWealth/Pages/Article.aspx?post=36 York: www.dep.pa.gov/OurCommonWealth/Pages/Article.aspx?post=37 Franklin: www.dep.pa.gov/OurCommonWealth/Pages/Article.aspx?post=42
www.pacounties.org 53 THE FUTURE OF PENNSYLVANIA AGRICULTURE
Is Our Broadband Infrastructure Up to The Task?
54 PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY NEWS | SPRING 2020 Kelly Kundratic Manager, Agriculture Policy and Programs Team Pennsylvania
ur commonwealth’s to recent statistics provided by agricultural community USDA, only 64% of Pennsylvania relies on many of the farms have internet access at all. Of Osame infrastructure those, almost a third do not have needs as any other business, and broadband (31%). the availability of broadband is no exception. Two years ago, in In a recent review of the state’s an effort to chart out the future overall economic performance in of the agricultural economy in relation to peers, we recognized Pennsylvania, Team Pennsylvania Pennsylvania as ranking 8th na- commissioned, in partnership with tionally in broadband infrastructure the Pennsylvania Department of determined by coverage rate and Agriculture, an analysis and road- speeds, with the caveat that we had map for Pennsylvania Agriculture. a low number of farms with internet access compared to the other com- Within the 2018 report are a set parable states farm access. of six recommendations to keep Pennsylvania agriculture competi- Without access to high-speed in- tive and fuel its growth. Furthering ternet (or internet at all), farms are investments in infrastructure was restricted in their ability to adopt one of those recommendations. innovations that improve farm pro- Specifically, we identified access ductivity and efficiency and con- to broadband as an investment nect to a customer base interested essential to the future success of in their product. the industry in the commonwealth. A farm with broadband could: The links between agriculture and rural broadband access are becom- • Use data to create decision tools ing increasingly critical to address that estimate potential profits and may pose potential solutions and risks associated with differ- to other challenges Pennsylvania ent varieties of crops; farms experience. • Make fertilizer and pesticide ap- plication decisions, which could HINDERING aid in reaching goals associated INNOVATIONS with the Watershed Implementa- tion Plan for the Chesapeake Bay; Many of Pennsylvania’s farms and • Monitor animal health and nu- agribusinesses are hindered in trition with sensor technology, their ability to adopt business- supporting advances in animal enhancing innovations because welfare, health, and disease pre- of limited broadband availability. vention; The roll-out and availability of broadband to our farms in • Use real-time digital notifications Pennsylvania has lagged behind to better leverage the time and other industrial clusters. According resources of a limited farm work- force.
www.pacounties.org 55 Lack of broadband similarly limits perhaps further, more digitally Pennsylvania believes in utiliz- farmers’ ability to participate in connected areas to meet trace- ing data to drive public policy new market opportunities that ability demands. and investments that will make a could bolster and diversify in- positive difference in the lives of come streams, like participating IMPACTS EXTEND FAR Pennsylvanians and our economy, in e-commerce or direct-to-con- because data without policy is sumer distribution (a growing The impacts of access to broad- “just numbers.” opportunity in our study was the band on farms are well-docu- growing trend to purchase local mented in several studies, but the We know we lag behind and organic). Additionally, as retail challenge isn’t confined to the competitors in our access to giants and tech companies partner farm gate; it extends through- broadband. We need to convert in solutions for food traceability out rural communities to include this data we know into policy that (i.e. blockchain), farmers without agribusinesses that support farms, can drive growth. We believe that internet will be left behind while including cooperatives, dealers, by working together, we can forge those struggling with internet consultants, suppliers and financ- a future for Pennsylvania that can speeds will fail to keep pace. The ers. While many farms themselves rival even the greatest challenges disconnect creates a further divi- are placed at a disadvantage when of our time. We encourage sion between where consumers it comes to broadband accessi- state, federal, private and public want their food to come from and bility, the compounded effects of leadership to act based on the where food may truly come from. businesses that support agricul- best available data because the Consumer desire to support local ture also contribute to this threat. future of our rural economies and farms could be challenged as re- agriculture industries will depend As a nonpartisan, nonprofit, on it. tailers are required to source from public-private partnership, Team
56 PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY NEWS | SPRING 2020 PA ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS DASHBOARD Dashboard - 50
INFRASTRUCTURE ECONOMY DEMOGRAPHICS BROADBAND POPULATION CHANGE Broadband access has become increasingly important as our economy continues to become centered around technology and the internet. In fact, more than 90% of small AGING POPULATION businesses in the United States are Internet dependent. Of PA’s competitor states, New Jersey has both the highest coverage at 99% and the fastest broadband speed at 52 th LABOR & INDUSTRY Mbps. Pennsylvania comes in 8 in this ranking with a 95% coverage rate and an average broadband speed of 41.4 Mbps. The lowest of our competitive states, West Virginia, has only 75% coverage and an average broadband speed of 29.9 Mbps. GDP TRADE While Pennsylvania ranks relatively well in terms of broadband coverage, the state does not perform as well when it comes to coverage of farm businesses. While 71% of MEDIAN INCOME farms use smart phones, tablets or computers to manage their businesses, only 62% of farms actually have internet access (as of 2017). EMPLOYMENT & UNEMPLOYMENT BUSINESS DYNAMISM Broadband Coverage, 2018 Share of Farms with Internet Access, 2013-2017 TALENT EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT 75% ATTAINMENT & MIGRATION 1. New Jersey ATTAINMENT & JOB 99% REQUIREMENTS 70% PUBLIC HIGHER ED FUNDING & 2. New York TUITION 98%
APPRENTICESHIPS 65% UNION MEMBERSHIP 3. Massachusetts 98% PLACE INFRASTRUCTURE 60% BROADBAND 4. Delaware 98% GOVERNANCE 55% REGULATIONS 5. Maryland LICENSING 97% QUALITY OF LIFE 50% 2013 2015 2017 HOUSING COSTS PA Growth Peers Neighbor CRIME
WEATHER Source: US Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service (2018) ARTS VIBRANCY 8. Pennsylvania 95%
Source: Pennsylvania Economic Competitiveness Dashboard, 2020
www.pacounties.org 57 Addressing Climate Change In Our Communities
Neil Shader Director of Communications Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
ecently, Pennsylvania facing our planet. It impacts every STREAM MAINTENANCE and the world celebrated aspect of our lives: the roads we the 50th anniversary of drive on, the food we eat, the air There are many ways that individ- REarth Day, participating we breathe, the water we drink, uals and communities can prepare in community events, cleanups, and more. for flooding and take steps to and other activities all across the prevent or reduce the impact of state and the country. The theme One of the ways communities floods. for this momentous milestone are feeling the effects of climate First, we must invest time in our was climate action, an issue that change is from increased frequen- local streams, which can easily rise is being acutely felt across Penn- cy and intensity of flooding. Stron- during and after a severe weather sylvania, as the impacts of climate ger floods can stress local budgets event. There are simple steps that change are being felt in communi- more than they already are, making residents and communities can ties across the state. flood preparation even more criti- cal. That’s why flood preparedness take to maintain streams and less- Climate change is one of the most, and prevention efforts should be in en damage from heavy rains and if not the most, pressing issue place before a single rain drop falls. high water.
58 PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY NEWS | SPRING 2020 At the Pennsylvania Department One of the ways communities are feeling the of Environmental Protection (DEP), we’ve developed a guide for effects of climate change is from increased stream maintenance that helps frequency and intensity of flooding. citizens understand how they can help lessen the threat of a flood. This guide is available on our web- GREEN AND GRAY RESTORE site, dep.pa.gov under our “Stream Maintenance” section. While it’s important to maintain The Wolf Administration has We have identified three levels of our waterways, we can take further proposed an aggressive plan to actions that can be taken, using steps to prevent heavy rains from address our infrastructure needs the example of a traffic signal. becoming dangerous flooding called Restore Pennsylvania. This through infrastructure mainte- initiative would provide a funding Green Light actions are actions nance and improvements. source to communities to manage that do not need DEP notification heavy rainfall, to reduce the impact or permits, like removing debris There are two types of infrastruc- of storms, and to recover from the from streambanks and riparian ture that we can invest in: Green most severe storms and flooding. areas and removing gravel and and gray. debris from around bridges and Restore Pennsylvania proposes “Green” infrastructure includes a commonsense severance tax culverts, including the use of floodplain restoration, bioretention handheld equipment, such as that would invest $4.5 billion over basins, and rain gardens. These the next four years in significant chainsaws, but not heavy equip- practices promote infiltration ment. These are steps any indi- high-impact projects throughout which, in turn, reduces surface run- the commonwealth that would re- vidual or community can do on off volume. “Gray” infrastructure their own. build Pennsylvania’s infrastructure, includes dams, levees, concrete increase resources for blighted Yellow Light actions are actions flood walls and channels and de- properties, and storm prepared- that might need pre-approval or tention basins. These systems are ness and disaster recovery, and emergency permits, like rebuilding designed to control flooding. help make Pennsylvania a leader in roads and bridges across streams; Proper maintenance of infrastruc- the 21st century. streambank stabilization projects; ture is critical, whether or not a removing in-stream gravel bars I and other DEP staff have been flood is an imminent threat. Much to traveling communities across with heavy equipment; and re- of our modern infrastructure in pairing or removing a bridge or the state to tour local projects Pennsylvania is 40, 50, 60 years old and sites that could benefit from culvert. In these instances, citizens and in need of upkeep. are urged to contact DEP before funding proposed in Restore proceeding. Of course, infrastructure projects Pennsylvania. We’re hearing from require funding for maintenance local officials and residents about Finally, Red Light actions require and improvements. Maintaining the impacts that these sites have permits from DEP and possibly aging infrastructure and imple- on the community, and how there other agencies. These include re- menting more green projects aren’t the resources to fix them. directing stream flow or relocating requires an enormous investment, a stream; building a new bridge or The site visits have focused on but we must invest in our com- stream stabilization and green in- culvert; and dredging or damming munities to ensure that they have streams. frastructure, stormwater sewer in- the tools and structure in place frastructure, abandoned mine land This guide can be found on to respond in the event of severe reclamation, and hazardous sites DEP’s website under Stream weather. and brownfields cleanup efforts— Maintenance. all of which Restore Pennsylvania could address.
www.pacounties.org 59 PREVENT AND REDUCE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY total CO2 emissions from electric power generators in their states. Stream restoration was the focus Last October, the governor signed of a DEP staff visit to Mansfield, an executive order instructing DEP It’s a unique opportunity for Tioga County, where a proposed to begin the process to participate Pennsylvania to become a leader stream improvement project on in the Regional Greenhouse Gas in combatting climate change and an unnamed tributary of the Tioga Initiative (RGGI), a market-based grow our economy by partnering River is underway. The site, which collaboration among nine North- with neighboring states. As a major is owned by Mansfield University east and Mid-Atlantic states to electricity producer, Pennsylvania and sits adjacent to their baseball reduce greenhouse gas emissions has a significant opportunity to field, lies immediately upstream of and combat climate change while reduce emissions and demonstrate the Clinton Street Archway, which generating economic growth. its commitment to addressing has repeatedly flooded, impacting climate change through a program nearby streets and homes. Participating states have agreed, with a proven track record. either through regulation or In Pottstown, Montgomery County, legislation, to implement RGGI By taking preventative steps like DEP staff and elected officials talk- through a regional cap-and-trade flood mitigation and introducing ed about addressing critical storm program involving CO2 emitting comprehensive policies like Restore sewer infrastructure needs in the electric power plants. These states Pennsylvania and RGGI, we are borough. Specifically, historic un- (Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, investing in our communities derground arch systems were built Maryland, Massachusetts, New and, most importantly, in the over existing streams as munici- Hampshire, New York, Rhode environmental health of our palities were built and developed Island, and Vermont) set a cap on commonwealth. over top, and these enclosures can collapse due to factors such as age, erosion, heavy rains, clogged storm sewers, or tree roots.
If we invest in these types of proj- ects now, we will help prevent or reduce potentially devastating and costly damage to homes, business- es, transportation infrastructure, and our precious natural resources.
We’re also taking preventative steps to reduce the impact of climate change, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Planning • Architecture • Site Development Surveying • GIS & Mapping It’s a unique Construction Inspection • Drone UAV Services opportunity for Water/Wastewater • Highways & Bridges Pennsylvania to When quality matters, call on us. become a leader in www.eadsgroup.com combatting climate 800.626.0904 Engineering, Architecture & Design Services change. Altoona • Clarion • Johnstown • Lewistown • Beaver North Huntingdon • Somerset • Cumberland • Morgantown
60 PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY NEWS | SPRING 2020 Solutions for an unsafe world. The earth is our home. In this unpredictable world, we can’t always prevent disasters from occurring, but MCMTM offers public safety solutions that prepare for the worst while ensuring the best possible outcomes for the safety of our communities and environment.
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www.pacounties.org 61 Pennsylvania Names the Ghost Town Trail as 2020 Trail of the Year
Pennsylvania is a national leader in trail development, providing its citizens and visitors with more than 12,000 miles of trails across the commonwealth, from gentle pathways threading through miles of preserved greenways, to remote, rugged trails scaling the state’s highest mountains. And, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) has named the Ghost Town Trail Pennsylvania’s 2020 Trail of the Year. The trail draws bicyclists, hikers, runners, walkers, birders and, in winter, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and fat-tire biking enthusiasts.
62 PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY NEWS | SPRING 2020 Recreation Trail in June 2003 and was ranked 7th on the “Best Hiking Trails in the United States” list by American Towns Media in 2016.
Each year, DCNR’s Pennsylvania Trails Advisory Committee des- ignates a Trail of the Year to help build enthusiasm and support for both large and small trails and raise public awareness about the value of Pennsylvania’s trail network. In 2019, DCNR named Mid State Trail, Pennsylvania’s longest trail, as Twin Rocks cyclist. Credit Cambria County Conservation & Recreation Authority Pennsylvania’s Trail of the Year. The Pennsylvania Trails Advisory Cooperatively managed by the stem of the trail was completed Committee is charged with imple- Cambria County Conservation from Blairsville, Indiana County to menting the recommendations & Recreation Authority (CCCRA) Ebensburg, Cambria County. of the Statewide Comprehensive and Indiana County Parks & Outdoor Recreation Plan to develop Trails, the trail is named for long- Recently marking its 25th anni- a statewide land and water trail net- gone coal-mining communities versary, Ghost Town Trail needs work to facilitate recreation, trans- once dotting the railroad corri- only 5.5 miles to complete the first portation, and healthy lifestyles. The dor. Formed in 1994 as a 12-mile continuous loop of rail trail in the 20-member DCNR-appointed com- segment, Ghost Town Trail was the Eastern United States. It is estimat- mittee represents both motorized first trail in the state constructed ed approximately 80,000 users en- and non-motorized trail users and with transportation enhancement joy the trail each year. Ghost Town advises the commonwealth on use funding. In 2005, the 32-mile main Trail was designated as a National of state and federal trail funding.
www.pacounties.org 63 Newsworthy SPRING 2020
CCAP’s Mandi Glantz Achieves CAE Center for Community Resources https://ccrinfo.org • CCAP’s Director of Member and Vendor Relations Human Services Mandi Glantz has achieved the Certified Association The Mission of Center for Community Resources (CCR) is to Executive credential from the American Society make a positive difference in everyday lives by connecting of Association Executives. The CAE is the highest people to a network of supports and services essential for professional credential in the association industry actively learning, working, and living in the community. We are an integrated point of contact working in and Mandi is the first CCAP employee to receive this collaboration with other human service agencies to identify honor. To be designated a CAE, Mandi completed needs in the community and effectively respond to assist 100 hours of specialized professional development anyone seeking help. With offices across the State, CCR and passed a stringent four-hour exam. The CAE coordinates free and confidential supportive services for program is accredited by the National Commission anyone seeking information and referral for mental health, for Certifying Agencies. intellectual disabilities, early intervention, crisis, substance abuse, and other human service needs. Please join CCAP in welcoming the eCivis, Inc. following new Associate members. www.ecivis.com • Consulting, Technology eCivis, a business unit of GTY Technology Holdings Alliance for Nonprofit Resources Inc., a leading provider of SaaS/Cloud solutions for the https://anrinfo.org • Accounting, Transportation public sector, is the most trusted and widely used grants management system enabling 1,000+ state, local and tribal ANR provides innovative back-office solutions and governments to maximize grant revenues, track financial and services for organizations to effectively fulfill their program performance, and prepare cost allocation plans. mission. ANR has extensive experience working with nonprofit organizations, governmental entities, managed care organizations, and for-profit Larson Design Group businesses. Our professional services allow your www.larsondesigngroup.com • Architects, Engineering organization or business to reach its full potential Larson Design Group is a national, award-winning provider and maximize your impact on the community. With of architecture, engineering and consulting services, with a services across the State, we offer a full range of vision to deliver more by elevating our client relationships, administrative, fiscal, grant writing, compliance and enriching the careers and lives of our employee-owners, human resources support and services using our and enhancing the communities in which we operate. experienced staff. Our team members come from a variety of nonprofit and for-profit backgrounds Stifel and can help manage workflow, time, and resources www.stifel.com • Finance more efficiently. Stifel (Stee-fuhl) is a wholly owned subsidy of Stifel Financial Corp., Stifel ranks as one of the largest stand-alone BentallGreenOak investment banks in the country providing public finance www.bentallgreenoak.com • Asset Management and corporate finance investment banking and advisory BentallGreenOak brings together two highly services, brokerage trading and sales, investment advising complementary firms with leading capability across and related financial services to individuals, institutions, the real estate investment strategy spectrum. Our governments and corporations. client-centric approach to investment and asset management, and real estate services, offers a world of opportunity for the stakeholders we serve.
64 PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY NEWS | SPRING 2020 ARE YOU A MEMBER?
The Society of County Human Resource Professionals of Pennsylvania An Affiliate of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania
BENEFITS OF JOINING SCHRPP!
• Educational opportunities to include the SCHRPP Annual Conference, six webinars on hot legal topics and three Regional Discussion Forums • Annual membership in the Society For Human Resource Management (SHRM) for the Primary Member • One free call per month for quick legal and labor law consulation services, with up to 35 percent discount on the firm’s hourly billing rates for matters that extend beyond a quick call • All-inclusive website for access to industry related resources, sample county policies, news and information, surevy data, networking tools, a webinar repository and much more • Mentorship and resources for new county human resource personnel • Voice at CCAP and at the county level as issues arise that could affect county human resources CONTACT: Desiree Nguyen, Executive Director, SCHRPP, [email protected] or (717) 736-4779.
www.pacounties.org 65 CORRECTIONAL PSYCHIATRY THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE REWARDS
66 PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY NEWS | SPRING 2020 Dr. Pamela Rollings-Mazza Vice President Behavioral Health Services Co-Corporate Medical Director CORRECTIONAL PrimeCare Medical, Inc. PSYCHIATRY
ennsylvania statistics The reasons for the increase in set of skills and an understanding of indicate that incarcerated mentally ill individ- the unique nature of the corrections approximately 96,000 uals are controversial. There is environment. Traditional psychiatric Ppeople from Pennsylvania an association with a decrease in training cannot be easily adapted are behind bars today and 37,000 access to psychiatric services in the to jails and prisons. There must be of them are in the county facilities. community, a shortage of psychiat- an appreciation of the interplay Rates of incarceration have ric providers, closures of acute care between providing appropriate dramatically increased over 50 beds and lack of general mental psychiatric care and recognizing the years. Mirrored in this increase in health supports in the community. legal and safety measures neces- incarceration is the increase in the It has been highlighted that jails sary in the corrections environment. number of incarcerated people and prisons have become the de The field of correctional psychiatry with mental illness. A conservative facto mental health systems of care is rapidly evolving at a quick pace, estimate from various sources for Pennsylvania communities. but works best in the interdisciplin- indicates that approximately 35% ary team model, with medical, secu- of all incarcerated individuals have The increased prevalence of people rity and administrative staff working mental illness and some studies with psychiatric illness in correction- together to address the growing show it at higher than 50%. al facilities has unintentionally led demand and need for health care Along with mental illness, rates to the evolution of a challenging services for inmates. of chronic medical issues and sub-specialty of psychiatry; correc- substance use problems are more tional psychiatry. Psychiatrists are With this foundation I would like to prevalent in jails and prisons then on the front line and uniquely posi- address my observations from the in the community. tioned to cope with challenges and past 12 years of practice in correc- advocate for change. Correctional tional settings as to the good, bad psychiatric providers need a special and rewards of this challenging field.
www.pacounties.org 67 THE GOOD Likely the most positive good is tance of mental health illness as the mere increase in mental health truly a disease and not merely a While a number of negative trends providers treating in correctional weakness has improved the inter- have led to this crisis and the facilities. Wherein 20 years ago disciplinary approach to treating a evolution of this sub-specialty of such specialized care would have patient’s overall health. psychiatry, there have been many been almost unheard of now there recent positive changes in Penn- is recognition of not only the need Although the prevalence of mental sylvania. Pennsylvania counties, for psychiatry services but, also, illness has not received the Gover- for the most part, have become psychologist and mental health nor’s stamp of an epidemic, as the increasingly aware and educated clinicians/counselors and psychi- opioid crisis has, it still is recognized about the challenges of incarcer- atric nurses. The ability to address much more readily as a crisis on the ating patients with serious mental the mental health needs through a local level. This local recognition illness. The County Commissioners team comprised of individuals spe- has led to numerous county gov- Association of Pennsylvania Behav- cifically trained to assess and assist ernments taking steps to address ioral Health Task Force has worked in the treatment of mental illness the crisis. These initiatives include diligently to highlight the issue has been a huge improvement. the creation of multi-disciplinary of mental illness behind bars and committees focused on providing many counties have taken initia- Correctional health care has also the best possible outcome for incar- tives to address the challenge. enjoyed the benefits of the rec- cerated individuals suffering from ognition of the need to treat the a mental illness. These committees whole person/body. The accep- typically have representatives from the correctional treatment team, the county MH department, the court, as well as, the District Attorney’s and Public Defender’s offices. The committee meets on a regular basis to discuss treatment and placement options. The involvement of all par- ticipants ensures the patient is not forgotten and that a patient specific plan of treatment can be developed relying on the talents and resources of all participants.
CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES CAN BE DIFFICULT PLACES TO WORK. AT TIMES THE ENVIRONMENT CAN BE HOSTILE AND PLACE AN EMOTIONAL BURDEN ON THE PRACTITIONER. ADDITIONALLY, THE CORRECTIONS ENVIRONMENT, WITH A PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF STEEL, CONCRETE AND BARS, IS INHERENTLY NOT A THERAPEUTIC ENVIRONMENT AND CAN BE COUNTER- PRODUCTIVE TO THE TREATMENT PLAN AND MAINTAINING MENTAL STABILITY.
68 PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY NEWS | SPRING 2020 An additional positive has been the Additionally, telepsychiatry has rectional facility. The provider must drastic reduction in the wait time to gained a greater level of accep- recognize the patients at risk and get a patient transferred to a state tance. Similar to the use of mid-lev- consider these glaring deficits and hospital for inpatient care. Where- el providers, telepsychiatry is now adapt to provide the most optimal as, as recently as two years ago, it frequently recognized as a valuable care possible. Correctional psychi- could take up to 18 months to have tool as opposed to a corner cutting atrists take on an important role as someone placed for inpatient care it mechanism. By utilizing this treat- advocate for patient care. Providers can now occur in weeks if not days. ment tool, the providers that are are ethically bound to deliver care This is extremely beneficial for the available can operate more effi- but that sometimes conflicts with individuals who simply need great- ciently and touch a larger patient the functionality of the correctional er care than can be rendered in a base. Given the rural nature of some system. An understanding of the correctional setting. Pennsylvania counties the only way nuances of the facilities and an a patient would have access to a ability to operate within the correc- Recognizing the crisis has also pro- psychiatrist or mid-level psych pro- tional parameters is an asset. duced some benefits in the treat- vider would be travel great distanc- ment systems. With less than 1,000 es or utilize telepsychiatry. Another challenge lies with the psychiatrists licensed in Pennsyl- patients themselves. People with vania there has been a growth in THE BAD serious mental illness who are not the number of mid-level providers, compliant in the community enter as well as, an acceptance of this Correctional facilities can be the facilities unstable. These indi- addition to the treatment team. difficult places to work. At times viduals lack the insight into their Although many elected officials do the environment can be hostile illness and refuse to participate in not appreciate the difference be- and place an emotional burden on treatment plans. They are often tween a psychiatrist and a psychol- the practitioner. Additionally, the severely impaired and vulnerable. ogist there remained a reluctance corrections environment, with a The Correctional Psychiatric pro- to allow certified psychiatric nurse physical structure of steel, con- vider is left to deal with a patient practitioners or physician assistants crete and bars, is inherently not a who is psychotic, agitated, not to treat the incarcerated mentally therapeutic environment and can eating and drinking, and not pro- ill. By pointing out people receiv- be counterproductive to the treat- viding self-care. These patients, in ing care in the community are ment plan and maintaining mental a correctional facility, are not only more frequently seen by mid-level stability. at risk to themselves but also to providers it has become possible the staff and inmates around them. to persuade officials the mid-level Incarceration on its own is difficult The correctional environment providers can appropriately render due to things such as overcrowd- restricts the ability to force treat- competent care. ing, isolation from family, privacy ment. Court orders may need to issues, and uncertainties about the be obtained to provide involuntary legal process and life after impris- treatment. This can be a difficult onment. It can be a dehumanizing process with many county courts process. Couple these issues with still not familiar with the landscape a diagnosis of mental illness, and and treatment limitations in the more specifically with a serious correctional facility. psychiatric illness, puts these pa- tients at increased risk. Other problems in the correctional setting include the fact that access Also, the patients with serious to your patients can be denied mental illness are frequently non- because of administrative/security compliant with treatment prior concerns. Historically correctional to incarceration and, therefore, facilities have segregated patients unstable on admission to the cor- with serious mental illness. This
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70 PENNSYLVANIA2020_Babst_PANews_7x10_BW.indd COUNTY NEWS 1| SPRING 2020 2/7/20 2:29 PM was often done out of a naive only on improving conditions suicide is all more real due to the belief that this would protect the within the facilities but also on increased risk associated with patient, as well as, staff and other the community as a whole. There factors that can be unforeseen and patients. We now know that long- needs to be an increase in com- uncontrollable. term segregation can exacerbate munity services, supports and or cause mental illness or pre- programs. Further education of In the correctional facilities, efforts vent patients with mental illness the judicial system could allow are made to screen and identify from improving. There has to be a for better recognition of patients those at risk. Unfortunately, envi- balance between optimal patient with mental illness and policies for ronmental and psychosocial factors care and the need for institutional mandatory minimal sentencing for are in flux. As providers we watch policies and safety. these patients. diligently people new to the facility, people who are detoxing, people Furthermore, the length of incar- As a psychiatrist one of the most who have never been incarcerated ceration for someone suffering negative aspects of county correc- before, and people with serious from a mental health issue is tional psychiatry is that suicide is a mental and medical illness. There longer than that of someone who leading cause of death for incarcer- are standardized screening tools does not require mental health ated individuals. The rate is much we use and protocols in place. treatment. Despite the fact there higher than the general population The reality, however, is not secure may be recognition that due to or even state correctional facilities. enough. their mental health issues the Coping with a patient suicide is individual should not be incarcer- challenging for psychiatric provid- Correctional psychiatrists will at ated there often times is nowhere ers. As clinicians, psychiatrists are some point in their career have to else for them to go. Although the trained to screen for safety and deal with the death of a patient. wait time for state hospitals have identify risks of suicide, but that As providers we have to identify been reduced, there remain times training is not absolute. As with how a loss can impact the facility, that if the state hospital cannot other branches of medicine, hav- the medical staff, and the security restore the individual they will be ing a patient die, specially die by staff and also identify the impact returned to the correctional facil- suicide, can be an emotional and to self. To compound the person- ity. With respect to mental illness occupational strain. In correction- al sense of loss when a patient behind bars the focus cannot be al psychiatry dealing with patient commits suicide it is likely you will
THERE NEEDS TO BE AN INCREASE IN COMMUNITY SERVICES, SUPPORTS AND PROGRAMS. FURTHER EDUCATION OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM COULD ALLOW FOR BETTER RECOGNITION OF PATIENTS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND POLICIES FOR MANDATORY MINIMAL SENTENCING FOR THESE PATIENTS. Pursuing the Profession While Promoting the Public Good®
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72 PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY NEWS | SPRING 2020 be sued for the death. If a suicide occurs in a community, there is often an outpouring of support for the family. If it happens in a correctional facility there is like- ly to be a law suit filed pointing blame for the individual’s decision to take their own life. These law suits are pursued by family mem- bers who frequently had no or little contact with the patient and the psychiatrist’s actions will be second questioned using hind- sight before judges and juries who do not understand the challenges and realities of mental illness in correctional facilities. THE REWARDS
While correctional psychiatry has its unique set of challenges, it also has its rewards. Once a correctional psychiatrist has come to terms with the realities of the practice, the environment and the liability, the professional choice of working in into jail not on needed medica- THE FUTURE corrections can be fulfilling. tions and not even knowing if they have any medical issues, be- With the greater appreciation of As a health care professional, I cause of the comprehensive care the current crisis it is the hope that selected my career out of desire to they receive while incarcerated improvements in the correctional help people. The reward of helping they are able to receive needed delivery system will improve. Just those that many have turned their treatment and reach a higher level as it was recognized the historical back on and who are the needi- of wellness. When successful with practice of locking people away in est of patients is a reward beyond obtaining compliance with taking state mental hospitals was inhumane words. necessary medication the patients so is the same conduct with correc- Patients with serious mental are much healthier than when tional facilities. As the population illness, who lack supports and they arrived. of those needing mental health follow up in the community, can treatment continues to grow so I have had patients and families reach a state of stability in a struc- must the resources. Hopefully those express an appreciation for the tured environment. While correc- resources will create an environment care received in the facilities. The tional facilities are not psychiatric when community-based treatment incarceration for some becomes a hospitals, for some patients they availability prevents mentally ill life turning point or a ‘rock bot- provide time for a patient to have individuals from being incarcerated tom.’ Patients are able to stabilize optimum response to treatment or at least reduces the length of their and make a change and the big- before release allowing for a incarceration. Ultimately the best op- gest reward is when those patients greater likelihood of success in the tion for patients with mental illness never return to the facility. community. Patients have come is to divert them from correctional facilities whenever possible.
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76 PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY NEWS | SPRING 2020 20202020
THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ASSOCIATION OF PENNSYLVANIA HAS RELEASED ITS SURVEY OF COUNTY BUDGET AND TAXATION RATES FOR 2020. THE BUDGET CHART ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES LISTS THE 2020 BUDGET FIGURES FOR EACH COUNTY (GENERAL, SPECIAL AND OTHER FUNDS) AND COMPARES THIS YEAR’S DATA TO 2019.
THE TAXATION CHART LOOKS AT MILLAGE RATES, PREDETERMINED RATIONS AND THE LATEST ASSESSMENT CHARGES.
www.pacounties.org 77 2020 COUNTY BUDGET SURVEY 2020 2020 BUDGET PERCENT BUDGET INCREASE/DECREASE FROM 2019 County General Special Other Total General Special Other Aggregate
COUNTY Adams 55,444,803 14,297,075 1,130,000 [1] 70,871,878 -12.89 1,556.82 112,999,900.00 9.86 Allegheny* Armstrong 24,464,129 36,486,527 60,950,656 6.02 5.60 5.77 BUDGET Beaver 81,174,508 128,183,874 2,310,524 211,668,906 1.73 -4.36 0.00 -2.07 Bedford 20,922,121 1,340,000 13,500,000 35,762,121 7.71 0.00 0.00 4.37 SURVEY Berks 257,272,667 322,429,093 0 579,701,760 8.63 0.92 4.03 Blair 56,782,292 20,637,526 9,931,312 87,351,130 2.65 -0.32 4.56 2.14 Bradford 91,919,515 91,919,515 7.89 7.89 Bucks 263,838,800 344,477,000 126,220,000 734,535,800 1.63 8.15 -14.29 1.26 Butler 68,115,795 104,738,406 172,854,201 4.53 3.19 3.71 Cambria 58,912,047 104,818,098 18,998,046 182,728,191 -1.90 -0.14 6.90 -0.04 Cameron 5,484,085 5,652,062 [2] 11,136,147 0.35 277.51 [3] 23.67 Carbon 25,813,000 23,582,604 14,566,483 63,962,087 4.69 8.52 -11.19 1.87 Centre* Chester 178,472,203 233,712,236 151,265,157 563,449,596 3.41 4.14 6.20 4.45 Clarion 20,060,450 7,665,809 1,839,394 29,565,653 9.38 10.90 21.35 10.45 Clearfield 22,160,185 15,373,828 0 37,534,013 6.36 -6.59 -0.48 Clinton 23,074,477 15,179,446 810,104 39,064,027 -0.18 -5.29 5.21 -2.13 Columbia 29,448,881 1,078,800 30,527,681 9.98 148.69 12.19 Crawford 57,576,452 3,465,131 12,850,125 73,891,708 -6.25 7.48 3.52 -4.10 Cumberland 94,962,984 80,001,369 81,324,084 256,288,437 5.31 [4] 0.70 12.88 [1] 6.05 Dauphin 186,647,348 163,426,218 350,073,566 2.97 3.39 3.17 Delaware 283,815,000 326,628,000 74,266,000 684,709,000 2.09 6.10 -3.39 3.32 Elk 13,779,978 22,307,311 8,445,611 44,532,900 1.74 -0.52 92.66 10.36 Erie 112,043,394 250,744,293 92,871,980 455,659,667 7.79 1.56 6.29 3.98 Footnotes: Fayette 41,063,215 44,830,498 85,893,713 7.18 1.44 4.11 [1] Increase/Decrease due to Forest 3,120,487 853,400 3,973,887 4.04 -2.73 2.51 bridge projects/funding Franklin 53,942,845 38,101,600 65,883,176 157,927,621 2.99 -24.85 [4] 3.04 -5.44 [2] Change in financial software/ accounting reporting Fulton 8,225,859 5,687,698 13,913,557 10.64 [5] 25.25 [5] 16.18 Greene 19,961,790 15,864,700 7,122,733 42,949,223 3.76 93.03 535.96 [6] 50.29 [3] Increase/Decrease due to grant programs/misc. accounts Huntingdon 21,268,203 489,008 159,075 21,916,286 -1.03 -0.18 -23.18 -1.22 Indiana 45,949,644 615,209 46,564,853 1.25 -6.17 1.14 [4] Increase/Decrease due to Capital Projects Jefferson 15,263,204 14,338,931 2,112,607 31,714,742 9.34 [7] 20.11 [8] -38.71 [9] 8.08 [5] Increase/Decrease due to 911 Juniata 12,439,409 3,966,900 16,406,309 13.26 16.14 13.94 Lackawanna 133,293,570 63,176,785 20,646,975 217,117,330 4.75 1.31 1.35 3.40 [6] Increase/Decrease due to liquid fuels and Act 13 Lancaster 165,315,362 108,957,318 274,272,680 1.61 2.31 1.88 [7] Increase/Decrease due to Lawrence 35,188,153 456,856 33,272,183 68,917,192 4.35 0.20 -4.14 0.05 C&Y funding Lebanon 51,769,410 2,188,842 32,852,679 86,810,931 10.71 -14.65 -3.76 4.01 [8] Increase/Decrease due to Lehigh 126,345,703 286,939,075 101,119,147 514,403,925 2.73 3.45 -5.30 1.43 independent living Luzerne 152,355,677 190,476,202 342,831,879 10.53 13.26 12.03 [9] Increase/Decrease due to Capital Lycoming 74,008,844 17,867,481 19,578,087 111,454,412 11.12 7.39 -3.15 7.73 Reserve and/or Debt Service McKean 18,704,115 24,328,178 43,032,293 0.04 8.20 4.49 *no data submitted Mercer 33,853,474 2,855,000 36,708,474 4.45 8.61 4.76 Mifflin 29,284,363 2,534,363 31,818,726 0.93 -22.53 -1.45 Monroe 65,567,831 35,388,118 13,266,675 114,222,624 5.00 4.17 10.48 5.35 Montgomery 428,458,786 177,234,365 166,654,123 772,347,274 1.99 8.31 13.28 [4] 5.68 Montour 8,863,080 8,863,080 8.44 8.44 Northampton 127,458,800 297,695,100 20,246,100 445,400,000 1.40 0.10 -82.08 -16.92 Northumberland 26,989,952 50,711,461 1,819,042 79,520,455 1.81 4.79 15.27 3.97 Perry 21,673,174 21,673,174 8.55 8.55 Philadelphia 5,025,266,000 3,696,831,000 1,340,633,000 10,062,730,000 17.54 8.07 -0.22 11.31 Pike 41,061,203 2,577,165 43,638,368 -2.05 69.50 0.45 Potter 10,857,782 10,857,782 4.88 4.88 Schuylkill 66,308,506 78,355,942 8,968,582 153,633,030 3.72 4.35 25.04 5.09 Snyder 19,956,621 30,996,750 50,953,371 -3.54 -2.23 -2.75 Somerset 52,873,497 52,873,497 6.80 6.80 Sullivan* Susquehanna 21,212,071 24,928,792 46,140,863 -9.14 70.31 21.48 Tioga 20,864,834 16,330,250 37,195,084 4.27 1.17 2.88 Union 19,364,637 19,364,637 -0.38 -11.12 Venango 43,410,699 14,058,573 1,512,882 58,982,154 -0.25 -6.31 -20.64 -2.40 Warren* Washington 98,729,128 26,122,428 25,692,128 150,543,684 3.56 -11.57 2.69 0.43 Wayne 37,737,944 67,868,593 105,606,537 14.23 15.72 15.18 Westmoreland 133,090,912 81,585,182 126,414,928 341,091,022 -9.17 -1.80 6.68 -2.01 Wyoming 14,437,089 2,753,095 1,013,662 18,203,846 9.67 0.00 -0.02 7.52 York 244,921,194 273,606,795 61,202,916 579,730,905 -3.05 5.09 1.13 1.09
AVERAGE 152,422,892 158,145,060 63,093,065 301,357,284 3.82 38.15 2,627,928.39 4.95 TOTAL 20,190,938,060 Footnotes:
[1] Increase/Decrease due to bridge projects/funding [4] Increase/Decrease due to Capital Projects [7] Increase/Decrease due to C&Y funding
[2] Change in financial software/account reporting [5] Increase/Decrease due to 911 [8] Increase/Decrease due to independent living
[3] Increase/Decrease due to grant programs/misc. accounts [6] Increase/Decrease due to liquid fuels and Act 13 [9] Increase/Decrease due to Capital Reserve and/or Debt Service
78 PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY NEWS | SPRING 2020 *no data submitted 2020 COUNTY TAXATION SURVEY
MILLAGE RATE MILLS INCREASE/DECREASE FROM 2019 LAST ASSESSMENT CHANGES Assess- Full Reass- Ratio General Special Debt Total General Special Debt Total ment Ratio essment Change
Adams 4.19 4.19 0.00 0.00 100% 2010 Allegheny 0.00 0.00 100% 2012 2000 Armstrong 14.80 4.20 19.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 50% 1997 1985 Beaver 25.00 1.00 26.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 50% 1982 1982 Bedford 2.97 0.61 3.58 0.54 0.00 0.54 100% 2012 Berks 7.67 7.67 0.00 0.00 100% 1994 Blair 3.68 0.02 0.38 4.07 0.16 -0.01 0.00 0.15 100% 2017 Bradford 10.43 10.43 0.00 0.00 50% 1999 1992 Bucks 20.10 5.35 25.45 1.01 -0.01 1.00 100% 1972 2004 Butler 21.50 2.94 3.20 27.63 0.04 0.00 -0.04 0.00 100% 1969 Cambria 27.50 2.00 4.00 33.50 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 100% 1972 2004 Cameron 20.50 1.50 5.00 27.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 50% 1986 Carbon 0.00 11.40 0.85 12.25 11.40 0.60 12.00 50% 2001 Centre 6.65 1.19 7.84 0.00 0.00 0.00 50% 1995 Chester 3.10 0.25 1.02 4.37 0.09 0.00 -0.09 0.00 100% 1998 Clarion 20.50 1.50 22.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 100% 1975 2008 Clearfield 25.00 25.00 5.50 5.50 25% 1989 Clinton 6.20 6.20 0.20 0.20 100% 2009 2009 Columbia 11.35 1.00 12.35 0.00 0.00 0.00 50% 1992 Crawford 20.25 0.70 0.90 21.85 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 75% 1971 1985 Cumberland 2.20 0.17 2.36 0.00 0.00 0.00 100% 2010 Dauphin 6.88 0.35 7.23 0.00 0.00 0.00 100% 2002 2002 Delaware 4.54 0.92 5.46 0.00 0.00 0.00 100% 2000 Elk 15.40 0.75 16.15 0.00 0.00 0.00 50% 1984 2006 Erie 5.71 5.71 0.00 0.00 100% 2013 2003 Fayette 5.36 1.40 6.76 0.08 1.17 1.25 100% 2003 Forest 18.91 18.91 0.00 0.00 100% 1974 2017 Franklin 25.00 1.30 4.10 30.40 0.00 0.25 0.00 0.25 100% 1961 2001 Fulton 12.40 12.40 0.00 0.00 100% 1990 2002 Greene 6.77 0.07 0.70 7.54 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 100% 2003 2003 Huntingdon 20.00 0.97 0.41 21.38 3.75 0.56 -0.56 3.75 80% 1978 2013 Indiana 3.64 0.00 0.81 4.45 0.13 0.81 0.94 100% 2016 2016 Jefferson 12.50 12.50 0.50 [7] 0.50 100% 1972 2004 Juniata 22.75 22.75 0.00 0.00 100% 1974 Lackawanna 47.60 3.82 12.50 63.92 7.11 0.00 -0.61 6.50 100% 1986 Lancaster 2.91 2.91 0.00 0.00 100% 2017 Lawrence 7.53 0.14 0.65 8.31 1.02 0.00 -0.02 1.00 100% 2003 Lebanon 3.29 3.29 0.00 0.00 100% 2012 2005 Lehigh 3.78 3.78 0.14 0.14 100% 2013 2013 Luzerne 6.17 6.17 0.19 0.19 100% 2009 2009 Lycoming 6.50 6.50 0.00 0.00 100% 2005 2005 McKean 12.25 12.25 1.00 1.00 100% 1998 2005 Mercer 22.25 1.40 23.65 0.00 0.00 0.00 100% 1974 2002 Mifflin 15.77 15.77 0.00 0.00 50% 1999 Monroe 2.77 0.17 0.46 3.40 -15.64 -0.93 -2.38 -18.95 100% 2019 2019 Montgomery 3.46 0.39 3.85 0.00 0.00 0.00 100% 1998 1998 Montour 3.78 3.78 0.18 0.18 100% 2004 Northampton 11.80 11.80 0.00 0.00 50% 1995 1972 Northumberland 25.00 5.89 30.89 1.27 -0.60 0.67 100% 1972 2005 Perry 3.31 3.31 0.00 0.00 100% 2010 Philadelphia 14.00 14.00 0.00 0.00 100% 2019 Pike 18.82 0.10 2.32 21.24 1.50 -2.22 2.22 1.50 25% 1981 1996 Potter 18.50 0.70 19.20 0.00 -0.04 -0.04 100% 1977 2002 Schuylkill 15.38 0.60 15.98 0.00 0.00 0.00 50% 1996 Snyder 21.63 0.19 21.82 0.00 0.00 0.00 100% 1973 2007 Somerset 11.26 2.10 13.36 0.00 0.00 0.00 50% 1998 1998 Sullivan 4.05 4.05 0.00 0.00 100% 2004 Susquehanna 10.50 0.33 10.83 0.00 0.00 0.00 50% 1993 1993 Tioga 6.75 6.75 0.00 0.00 100% 2002 Union 4.56 0.16 0.84 5.56 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 100% 2005 2006 Venango 6.00 6.00 0.00 0.00 100% 2000 2004 Warren 21.50 21.50 0.00 0.00 50% 1989 Washington 2.43 2.43 0.00 0.00 100% 2017 2017 Wayne 4.61 0.38 4.99 1.00 0.00 1.00 100% 2005 2005 Westmoreland 21.49 21.49 0.50 0.50 100% 1972 Wyoming 23.87 1.98 25.85 0.00 0.00 0.00 50% 1988 1996 York 5.90 0.09 5.99 0.19 0.00 0.19 100% 2006
AVERAGE 12.16 1.23 2.09 13.42 0.16 0.43 0.01 0.29 86%
www.pacounties.org 79 June 17 - 19, 2020 Harrisburg, PA
The County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania is proud to present the participants in the 2020 Center for Excellence in County Leadership (CEL) program. 2020 Program Participants Elizabeth Arnold, Commissioner, Susquehanna County Lori Vargo Heffner, Council Member, Northampton County Benjamin Kafferlin, Commissioner, Warren County Dave Kovach, Commissioner, Columbia County Josh Lang, Commissioner, Bedford County James Martin, Commissioner, Adams County Daryl Miller, Commissioner, Bradford County C. David Pedri, County Manager, Luzerne County Michèlle Pokrifka, Solicitor, York County Scott Rastetter, Council Member, Erie County Michael Rivera, Commissioner, Berks County Dan Vogler, Commissioner, Lawrence County
Gold Ribbon Sponsor Silver Ribbon Sponsors
Partner Sponsors Cafardi Ferguson Wyrick Weis + Gabriel llc (CFWW+G) Campbell Durrant, P.C.
80 PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY NEWS | SPRING 2020 THERE WILL BE GOOD DAYS AND BAD DAYS
LEARN FROM BOTH
Tim Rahschulte, Ph.D. Chief Executive Officer Professional Development Academy
veryone wants to be is done, and our big presentation throw on an old pair of khakis and great. But I am sure we wows your fellow county leaders. a clean shirt, get to the platform can all agree that some It wasn’t just a good day; it was a just in time to see the train rolling Edays are easier than oth- great day. away, and finally reach the office ers. Some days we wake up, and only to have a colleague point our hair is already perfect, our However, great isn’t a word used out the ripped seam in the back clothes look great on us, we feel to describe all our days or how we shoulder of the clean shirt (which great, it’s a sunny seventy-five- think of ourselves every day. Some could be due to excessive workouts degree day, the coffee we just days we wake up late because our creating bulging muscles beneath brewed brings back experiences phone’s alarm didn’t go off since the shirt … but that would be a lie). of a time in Spain when the coffee the battery ran dead (stupid short- The new presentation we worked had just the right amount of rich- life battery!), which means we on all night for the big community ness under just the right amount need to rush through our morning meeting today has been canceled. of cream, the songs on our drive routine and miss our workout. We Great! In fact, it’s pretty bad. We into the office are favorites, all the open a container of yogurt for a all have days like these. Some days traffic lights are green in our favor, quick breakfast just to find a moldy are up. Some days are down. Some the office is abuzz with positive science project has started grow- days it seems everything is in our energy, all the work our colleagues ing inside (argh!), jump into the favor. Other days it seems every- promised would be done by today shower for two minutes, can’t find thing is working against us. anything good to wear and just
www.pacounties.org 81 If you’re human (which I am going reflect on what went wrong so There’s an adjacent rule here to to assume), you’ve experienced it doesn’t happen again. That’s point out in addition to learning good days and bad days. In fact, good learning and a part of good from good days and bad and that when asked, most days fit into leadership. is to always look for opportunities either of those two categories - to learn, but don’t dwell on some with immense joy and others Some might say a failure is only a opportunities missed. When with equally profound sorrow, failure if we don’t learn something learning from bad days, bad some quite productive and others from it. But we also need to learn moments, and bad experiences, dogged by distraction, some faced from the good days. What made the value is in learning and moving with passionate procrastination it a good day? How can we repeat on. If we get stuck and dwell on the and others with abundant that experience? How can we take lessons of missed opportunities, enthusiasm. We don’t control all what worked and make it even we’ll miss the next opportunity, the variables that make up our better? which is certain to be right around experiences, but some things are The key to learning is to develop the corner. So be constantly on going to go the way we intend (or learning consistency and to the lookout for opportunities to possibly even exceed expectations), approach each and every learn—in both the good and the and some aren’t going to measure situation as an opportunity to bad. Then take that learning and up (or will be downright lousy!). We learn—whether you’ve had a look for the next opportunity to each have limits as well as potential radical success, dismal failure, or apply it. within each of our days. something in between. In other words, regardless the situation, go Reprinted from the National The positive in all this is that Association of Counties’ County both good days and bad days, in as a learner. Leadership is not a reserved right for a select few. News. Tim Rahschulte is the good moments and not-so-good chief architect of the NACo High moments, contain lessons—things Leadership is a learnable set of behaviors and capabilities. It’s an Performance Leadership Program we can learn from. It’s more (www.naco.org/skills). widely practiced to learn from bad attitude. It’s a mindset. It’s a belief days. A team that misses project and determination to get better targets, the time you made a and better over time and with critical error that resulted in severe experience. As learned from Regis consequences, the moments of Mulot, the chief human resource crisis that shake us, or any other officer at Staples, “The best experienced slump—all these will leaders make every day a learning often cause immediate action to experience.”
The positive in all this is that both good days and bad days, good moments and not-so-good moments, contain lessons— things we can learn from.
82 PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY NEWS | SPRING 2020 Focused on the challenges of today, inspired by the opportunities of tomorrow. At Baker Tilly, we pair the ethics, structure, quality control and business discipline of a CPA firm with the skills and knowledge of a municipal financial advisor. Achieve your goals and meet your obligations with proactive insights and advice from our accounting and municipal advisory professionals.
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