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Lebanon County Commissioners learned at their Feb. 6 meeting that the Lebanon Rescue Mission plans to expand by three-fold one segment of its operations.
Commissioners unanimously approved providing a letter of support to the City of Lebanon’s zoning hearing board for the nonprofit’s planned Expansion 2025 project at 1250-1310 Bittner Blvd., Lebanon.
The approved letter notes that, “Expansion 2025 will ultimately provide three times the capacity of supportive emergency housing for women with children and seniors experiencing homelessness.”
It further states, “The Agape Shelter, 139 S. 9th St., Lebanon, has been a safe haven for women with children for over forty years.” The letter also says, “the “community need for emergency housing far exceeds the available space in Agape’s main house” and that the properties on either side of its current shelter are not programmatically or economically feasible to continue purchasing properties in the area.
“Expansion 2025 will provide quality space for both the Lebanon Rescue Mission’s Agape ministry for women with children and the Lebanon Free Clinic. In addition, emergency housing for seniors experiencing homelessness will be the first of its kind in the county… Expansion 2025’s new facility will continue the mission of providing high-touch supportive services, to assist in ending the cycle of homelessness.”
This action item wasn’t the only one pertaining to county-owned real estate.
Commissioners also voted unanimously to renew a lease agreement for one year with Cleona Borough at 140 W. Walnut St. for Magisterial District Court Judge John W. Ditzler’s offices. Monthly rent is $1,100.
Although county-owned lease agreements are traditionally for six-year terms, commissioners honored a one-year request since borough officials are considering making changes to its police department.
Still another action item involving county-owned property included approving Phase 2 and 3 security upgrades at the Lebanon County Correctional Facility, totaling $713,000. LCCF warden Tina Litz received approval to proceed with these phases.
She said Phase 2 work consists of offsite system building and configuring and commissioning while Phase 3 covers the remaining headend (controls) installation, configuration and commissioning. Phase 2 and 3 projects are being completed by Lancaster County-based Cymprium Solutions.
Litz said Phase 1 renovations were completed in 2024 for $336,000, adding these phases complement Phase 2 and 3 projects. Phase 1 covered installation of door controls, paging and intercom system renovations.
In an unrelated matter involving LCCF, commissioners voted to approve a fire protection service agreement with Johnson Controls for $2,401.23.
In other non-realty actions, commissioners voted unanimously on four unrelated matters pertaining to their Information Technology Services department. Those actions include approval of:
- An infrastructure lease agreement with Dext Capital to upgrade the county’s IT system at a cost of nearly $1.38 million. A portion of that agreement includes $53,000 to Arraya for providing professional services for this project.
- A contract agreement with Levi, Ray & Shoup Inc., totaling $513,236 for the county’s pension system. This payment is covered by the county’s retiree’s pension fund.
- A contract with Municipal Services Bureau for credit card services via York-based Teleosoft for the county Prothonotary’s Office.
- An extension agreement to their original I-System lease for $5,000 with DDI Capital.
In other county business, commissioners unanimously voted, unless otherwise noted, to:
- Pay 23 placement provider contracts for services provided to Lebanon County Children & Youth.
- Reappoint Marc Hess of Lebanon, Sue Werner of Jonestown, Kimberly Miller of Richland, and Roberto Santiago of Myerstown to the advisory board of Lebanon County Children and Youth Services. Their terms run Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2027.
- Authorize the Lebanon County Commission chair to sign future master planning agreements and Unified Planning Work programs with the state Department of Transportation on behalf of the Lebanon County Planning Department and its Metropolitan Planning Organization.
- Accept the resignation, with regret, of Josie Ames as Lebanon County chairman of the America250 program, effective Jan. 20. It was announced that Ames wants to spend more time with her mother, who is 103 years old. No replacement has been named. Commissioners are seeking an individual to replace her on the committee. Anyone who’s interested should contact the office of the Lebanon County Commissioners at 717-228-4427.
- Proclaim the week of Feb. 3-7 as Scout Week in Lebanon County to honor the Iron Forage District of the Pennsylvania Dutch Council and their 1,500-plus members, over $1,000 volunteers and 63 organizations. The annual Scout BSA Expo was held last week at Lebanon Valley Mall.
- Provide a hotel tax grant totaling $5,000 to Lancaster Kennel Club for their Red Rose Classic dog show May 10 at the Lebanon Valley Exposition Center and Fairgrounds. This request passed by a 2-1 vote, with Commissioner Jo Ellen Litz voting no since the current program balance was unavailable for this meeting. It was stated prior to the approval vote that the account balance as of December was over $7,000 and that enough funds were there to cover this request.
- Grant real estate tax exemptions to five fully disabled veterans.
- Terminate immediately Courtney Franklin from the Lebanon County Commission on Drug and Alcohol Abuse Advisory Council due to lack of meeting attendance, a requirement in the organization’s by-laws.
- Approve the treasurer’s report and various personnel transactions.
- Accept the minutes of their Jan. 16 meeting and executive session that followed.
Immediately following the meeting, commissioners convened the Lebanon County Assessment Board to consider an assessment exemption request.
The assessment board agreed to exempt Steve Martin on behalf of Richland Bible Church, 206 E. Main St., Richland. The church building was sold to Martin due to financial concerns. Martin purchased the property so church members could continue to meet at that location.
Lebanon County solicitor Matt Bugli said the building is conducting religious services so he recommended Martin be granted an exemption request. Bugli told LebTown multiple examples of prior case law have been established for private property used for religious purposes. He added the use of the property passes the legal test for religious uses.
The board voted unanimously to approve the exemption request.
Lebanon County Commissioners meet at 9:30 a.m. of the first and third Thursdays of each month in Room 207 of the county municipal building, 400 S. 8th St., Lebanon.
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