Winter 2015 living lackawanna Commissioners’ Office Official Newsletter and Report to Lackawanna County Taxpayers 200 Adams Avenue, 6th Floor Scranton, PA 18503 152 3 4 6 7 8 Commissioners’ A Message A Looking Forward B to a Banner Year B Corey D. O’Brien Jim Wansacz Patrick M. O’Malley Upcoming Events Lackawanna County enjoyed a ground-breaking year ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT in 2014. We strengthened our commitment to bringing At the start of our administration, Lackawanna County Feb. 23 - Mar. 20 Winter Golf Clinic, South Scranton Intermediate people together, improving infrastructure, collaborating was faced with a 9.8% unemployment rate. Without C April 25 Bike Safety Fair, PNC Field to create jobs, diversifying the economy via nationally assistance from state and federal authorities, we seized C April 28 Women’s Golf Clinic, Scott Greens Golf Club acclaimed programs and offering a variety of the opportunity to revitalize our economy by establishing May 9 Fishing Derby, McDade Park recreational activities. a Department of Economic Development. Tasked with County Parks Have June 6 Bocce Tournament, McDade Park spurring job growth through the creation and retention Something for Everyone June 18 Job Fair, PNC Field COST EFFICIENCY of family-sustaining, private sector jobs, the department June 22 Lackawanna County Day, PNC Field During the past year, we continued to fortify the D has played a key role in reducing the County’s D June 22-25 Youth Soccer Clinic, Merli-Sarnoski Park financial stability of Lackawanna County. There is no tax McDade Park Merli-Sarnoski Park unemployment rate to 5.8%. June 27 Family Fun Day, McDade Park increase for calendar year 2015. For the third straight Inclusive Boundless Playground 35-acre lake stocked by the July 7 Art in the Park, Merli-Sarnoski Park We created a range of programs to nurture economic Parks & Recreation Pennsylvania Fish and Boat year the audit was completed on time, our budget is Swimming pool with bath house July 11 Family Fun Day, Covington Park growth. The nationally recognized SBA Loan Fee With Old Man Winter still in Lackawanna County, Mark your calendar for Lackawanna County Day at Commission balanced and the County is on course for an anticipated Children’s fishing pond stocked July 14 Art in the Park, Covington Park Waiver Program has saved 26 different businesses over don’t miss your opportunity to sleigh ride at McDade PNC Field on June 22. Bring the whole family out to several times a year Two pavilions accumulated fund balance of $8,435,000. All of this Park. It’s free and open to the public. However, as we enjoy stadium tours, run the bases, meet and greet July 21 Art in the Park, Aylesworth Park speaks volumes to bond rating companies, and it shows $249,000 and leveraged $14.8 million worth of loans, Basketball and tennis courts Large handicap accessible July 25 Family Fun Day, Aylesworth Park E look forward to Spring, there will be plenty of events with CHAMP and friends, face painting and much more. fishing pier our commitment to the fiscal health of the County. while creating and retaining a combination of 420 jobs. promoting bike safety, the arts, sports and a lot of Stay and enjoy the game for just $5 per ticket. Softball field July 27-30 Youth Soccer Clinic, Covington Park The Community Re-Invest Program has awarded over Beautiful sandy beach area We are doing more with less, with no interruption or family fun. Two pavilions July 28 Art in the Park, McDade Park $900,000 to 57 community projects throughout the We will also feature Family Fun Days at all of our with bath houses cuts in programs or services. The County is operating August 8 Family Fun Day, Merli-Sarnoski County, generating a total public-private investment You can begin to “Think Spring” with the Lackawanna County Parks starting with McDade Park, June 27; Outdoor picnic areas with Boat launch with a workforce that is at its lowest level since 1999. County Commissioners’ 2015 Winter Golf Clinic, Covington Township Park, July 11; Aylesworth Park, charcoal grills (electric motors only) of more than $4.1 million in our neighborhoods. scheduled from February 23 through March 20. July 25; and Merli-Sarnoski Park on August 8. Two-mile cross country running Lackawanna County Attractions We have implemented cost saving measures that have 15 miles of hiking, mountain LACKAWANNA COUNTY WIRELESS INITIATIVE F For more information, visit the Parks and Recreation Come and enjoy some free family fun on each day course and hiking trail system bike and nature trails strengthened our overall economic health. In that vein, The network is designed to consolidate and secure page at lackawannacounty.org. from 11 am to 2 pm. Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour we entered into an Energy Savings Contract (ESCO) Picnic areas with tables and Lackawanna County data as it travels from site to site. Complex with concession charcoal grills McDade Park, Scranton | 570-963-6463 project at the prison to have the operating systems Our Spring and Summer schedule will have something One of Lackawanna County’s hallmark programs, Open Daily 10am-3pm | April 1st - November 30th After the network went live, the County reached out to for everyone, including the Commissioners’ Bike Safety Art in the Park, will again be held every Tuesday stand and gift shop run more efficiently, saving valuable revenue. Similar Two playground areas with Closed Easter & Thanksgiving local businesses and governments to help them reduce Fair on April 25 from 11 am - 1 pm to be held at PNC from 10 am until noon throughout the month of Pennsylvania Anthracite basketball and volleyball courts measures will be undertaken at the courthouse. Heritage Museum and gift shop spending. In addition to county sites, the following Field in Moosic. We will distribute free safety helmets to July at our parks. It will begin at Merli-Sarnoski Park Regulation soccer fields Electric City Trolley Museum & Station Health care is another segment that has a significant G Cancer Memorial Garden Cliff St. on the grounds of Steamtown entities made the connection to the new Wireless all children, hot dogs, beverages and more. Make sure on July 7; followed by Covington Township Park on Lackawanna County Sheriff’s impact on our budget. Annually, our health insurance to bring your bicycle and ride around the concourse July 14; Aylesworth Park on July 21; and McDade and arboretum National Historic Site, Scranton | 570-963-6590 Network - Lakeland School District, TekRidge Center, Department horse stables Open Daily 9am-4pm | May 1st - December 31st premiums increase 7-10 percent. It is vitally important to Bocce courts Scranton Enterprise Center, and Otreva. inside PNC FIeld. There will also be fingerprinting by Park on July 28. The program will feature free arts Aylesworth Park Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Year’s Day secure the best possible coverage at the most affordable the District Attorney’s Office, bicycle safety lessons activities for kids, rain or shine! Multipurpose field for soccer Four-acre lake with beach costs. To that end, we joined 18 other Pennsylvania Last spring, Lackawanna County started a project to and check-ups, a bike rodeo and additional giveaways. The Lackawanna County Parks and Recreation and lacrosse Lackawanna County Visitors Center work with local municipalities to provide public Wi-Fi. Fishing in lake stocked by the and Whistle Stop Shoppe counties in a health insurance consortium. This three-year Children will also have an opportunity to win a bike Department is offering a host of clinics and events. Free sports equipment rentals The first of these sponsored locations went live under H with our Design Your Own Helmet coloring contest Pennsylvania Fish and Boat 99 Glenmaura National Boulevard, Scranton agreement will reduce budgeted health insurance costs They include a Women’s Golf Clinic, Fishing Derbies, Large, open fields for Frisbee Commission 1-800-22-WELCOME x5 for this year by a minimum of $240,000. This is another a pilot program in the Borough of Jessup. or by registering the day of the event. Gymnastics Clinics, a Bocce Tournament, Youth Tennis or cross country skiing Open Daily 9am-5pm Playing fields example of how the County strives to save valuable Improving job growth in Lackawanna County has Clinics, an Adult Tennis League, Summer Basketball Covington Park See Message, page 2 always been a priority of the Lackawanna County Clinics, a Junior Summer Golf Clinic, Youth Soccer Inclusive Boundless Playground Lackawanna County resources though innovative approaches. Inclusive Boundless Playground Convention and Visitors Bureau Commissioners, and it continues to be so with Clinics and much more. For more details and dates Pavilion complex than can be 5 6 7 8 Little League field reserved for groups of up to For more information on area attractions, hotels preparations for our third annual Job Fair to be visit lackawanacounty.org. and restaurants, please visit www.visitnepa.org I held at PNC Field on Thursday, June 18. It is free Pavilion and charcoal grills 150 people or call 1-800-22-WELCOME be in the know With so much to see and do this Spring and lackawannacounty.org and open to the public. Last year’s event featured Summer, we hope to see you out and about in Baseball and soccer fields Lake trail over 60 vendors offering more than 2,000 jobs. Basketball and volleyball courts Numerous hiking trails This newsletter is paid for by the Hotel Room Rental Tax. Lackawanna County. 1 2 3 4 Fishing/Seven-acre lake Picnic tables and charcoal grills be in the know lackawannacounty.org ‘Message’ Continued from page 1 LACKAWANNA COUNTY Judicial Sale Generates Funds for Schools, Municipalities Housing Rehabilitation The second sponsored site was in Dunmore for the Dunmore Community .