Lebanon County Commissioners approved submitting a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding application totaling nearly $600,000 to the state on behalf of several municipalities and local public health agencies.
The unanimous approval vote came during the commissioners’ Oct. 17 meeting and was one of four resolutions presented by the authority during the session concerning the CDBG program. The block grant program is federally funded with the program administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.
Dan Lyons, program director of the Lebanon County Redevelopment Authority, said the state CDBG grants are for fiscal year 2024 and include funding requests totaling $590,080. Part of that funding request includes $162,883 for South Lebanon Township and $97,338 for Millcreek Township, with the county’s portion totaling $329,859.
Commissioners also signed a standalone resolution to be eligible for the CDBG that addresses fair housing. Lyons noted this resolution must be approved annually.
The third resolution addresses a modification to CDBG fiscal year funding, including 2020 through 2023, to “move money around.” Those requests include one for a public service provider that relinquished its allocation and a request to use excess funds for a new project in South Lebanon Township after another one was completed under budget.
The final resolution updated the Citizen Participation Plan for each recipient of CDBG funding. This resolution covers Lebanon County and Millcreek and South Lebanon townships because those entities are receiving 2024 FY funding.
Lyons said revisions to the plan include adding Millcreek Township, a provision for Zoom meetings as an option and emergency stipulations if a disaster declaration were to be made to allow flexibility with lead time for a public hearing.
In other business on a fairly light agenda, commissioners also approved two items presented by Audrey Fortna, director of Probation Services.
Fortna presented and commissioners unanimously approved a Juvenile Grant-in-Aid program application and agreement for fiscal year 2024-25 for available funds totaling $193,314. Funds will be utilized toward personnel and operational costs of the Lebanon Probation Services Juvenile Unit, according to Fortna.
She said the county is permitted to allocate up to 10 percent of the grant funding toward operational costs. For FY 2024-25, approximately 7.8 percent of funding is denoted for operational costs for personnel’s work cellphones, training expenses, community service supplies, starting a youth garden and supporting prevention/diversion efforts.
The second grant the county will apply for is the state Commission on Crime and Delinquency Continuing County Probation and Parole grant for fiscal year 2024-25. Fortna said due to a new funding formula, the county will see an increase in the grant, noting the amount is $97,711.
The purpose of this grant is to support and improve adult probation and parole services at the county level. Funding from this grant will be used to support staffing expenses.
In other business, commissioners voted to:
- Issue a proclamation to honor Michael Ott for 27 years of distinguished service, including at the Lebanon County Correctional Facility and the Department of Emergency Services prior to his retirement.
- Grant real estate tax exemptions for six fully disabled veterans.
- Approve the minutes of their Oct. 3 meeting, treasurer’s report and numerous personnel transactions
After commissioners adjourned the meeting, the county’s Assessment Board, on which they serve, convened to address one item. The board met to consider an exemption request by Keystone Human Services, at 1078 Gravel Hill Road, Palmyra, for Susquehanna Service Dogs.
Lebanon County solicitor Matt Bugli said he reviewed the request, which was addressed at an assessment board hearing on Oct. 3, and advised the board to approve it.
Keystone Human Services’ website notes “Susquehanna Service Dogs breeds, raises, trains, and places assistance dogs and hearing dogs, as well as facility dogs, to assist children and adults with disability to lead the lives they want to live.”
The board unanimously approved the exemption request. After the assessment board had adjourned, commissioners convened the Election Board, on which all three also serve, to receive an update for the upcoming election on Nov. 5.
County Commissioners meet on the first and third Thursdays of the month in Room 207 of the county municipal building at 400 S. 8th St., Lebanon. Public workshops are also held at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesdays on an as-needed basis.
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