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Lebanon County Commissioners adopted a resolution Thursday accepting nearly $5.5 million in federal and state funds for Phase 6C of the Lebanon Valley Rail Trail project.
Commissioners also approved a 12-page ordinance to govern use of the trail, which turns 30 in 2026 and was marked with a fundraiser and anniversary celebration on Saturday, June 6.
In separate business, they approved actions regarding housing across Lebanon County as presented by the county Redevelopment Authority.
Phase 6C rail trail funding
Lebanon County senior traffic planner Jon Fitzkee said the monies for Phase 6C will not only help fund that portion of the trail construction but also vastly improve the roadway near 22nd Street in Lebanon city.
“The 22nd Street project is going to involve a bridge replacement and partial road realignment that will help to carry a key portion of the LVRT up into U.S. 422. So this is going to be a critical project not only to address a number of issues we’ve had on 22nd Street for a number of years with flooding (by) putting in a new bridge, but also changing the approach of that roadway. So you’ll now have a four-way intersection.”
Fitzkee noted the lion’s share is coming through federal funding, including $2.5 million from PROTECT (Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-Saving Transportation) and $1.5 million from TASA (Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside) grants. Another $1 million is from the County Act 13 Bridge fund, $253,000-plus from the Lebanon MS-4 Consortium fund, $200,000 from the North Cornwall Traffic Impact fund, and $25,000 from LVRT.
Total funding is $5,478,425.33 for a project that is expected to last for 18 months.
“The PROTECT funds are actually very important for this project because with the expiration of the current federal transportation bill, we need to be able to have those funds locked up,” Fitzkee said. “And PennDOT was gracious enough, given the importance of this project for the LVRT and the county, to be able to help us secure those dollars, which closed a real critical gap.”
How long the project will actually take to complete depends on a few factors.
“The project has about an 18-month timespan. A lot of that centers around the relocation of the roadway and the bridge and a lot of the things that are going to take place over an extended period of time,” Fitzkee said.
“My only comment is that as important as the rail trail is, that intersection from a public safety point of view, is vital to have that realigned and the big difference in the frequency of accidents there,” said commissioner Bob Phillips.
The dip where the street narrows will be eliminated to help prove sight distance for motorists using 22nd Street. Fitzkee noted one user who he said was thrilled to learn that the roadway will also be corrected through this project, which along with phases to the north are among the last before the trail is completed.
Rail trail ordinance
Commissioners unanimously adopted an ordinance to govern use of the nearly 26-mile trail, which will traverse from Swatara State Park in the northern part of Lebanon County to near Colebrook at the Lancaster County line to the south when completed.
The ordinance contains 20 sections and addresses such things as hours of operation, trespassing, dog and animals, horses and bicycles/pedalcycles/electric bikes (e-bikes), according to Tom Kotay, LVRT grant writer.
“We’ve been working for about a year and a half with legal counsel here at the county to adopt an ordinance that lays out some rules for operating and maintaining the rail trail. And we have that for you today for your final review and approval,” Kotay said. “Now there are still things in that ordinance that we may address over time, but we think the ordinance is in good enough condition for us to be asking you for your approval today.”
Redevelopment Authority actions
Dan Lyons, executive director for the Redevelopment Authority, presented five items for consideration that were all passed unanimously.
The first request was to accept a state-required policy concerning the Community Development Block Grant program for income reuse.
“This is a policy that the state’s requiring us to adopt. It will direct the recycling of program income. So the program occasionally makes loans, for example, to home buyers and for housing rehab. And when those loans come back, this will govern how those funds are used,” Lyons said.
Commissioners granted a request to approve administrative agreements for fiscal year 2024 and 2025 within the CDBG program.
“We have just finished the environmental review process for the fiscal year ’24 grant and would be ready to start our first construction project later this summer and then we have received our award notice for fiscal year ’25. It’s in the contracting stage,” Lyons said.
The third item concerned the county’s FY 2022 HOME program funds, which are for first-time homebuyers.
“It was on hold for a period of time, but it’s active again. We’re approaching the contract deadline and the state is encouraging us to request an additional year to spend down the remaining balance of that program,” Lyons told commissioners before approval was provided.
The final requests concerned permission to apply for a FY 2026 HOME grant and to release matching funds through Act 137 to be compliant with the terms of the HOME grant program.
“We’re expecting the state to open an application window for HOME in the coming months. We’d like your permission to apply for $750,000 of home funding to operate our housing rehab program for owner/occupants,” Lyons said. “In support of that application, I’m requesting matching funds from the Act 137 Affordable Housing Trust Fund of $100,000.”
Lyons told commissioners that the agency has served about 30 homes in the last three years and has another 80 on a waiting list to receive rehabilitation.
Lyons told LebTown after the meeting that this is significant funding because it allows rehabilitation to occur on buildings so that qualified homeowners can remain in their homes. For example, a homeowner in need of a new roof would potentially have to vacate if this funding was not available to make necessary repairs.
Other county business
In other business, commissioners voted unanimously, unless otherwise noted, to:
- Accept the treasurer’s report, including a beginning balance of $2,057,850.71 and with receipts of $543,189.94, for a total cash balance of $2,601,40.65. Less expenditures of $6,783.57, and less tax claim of $88,877.11, which leaves a cash balance of $2,505,379.97.
- Sign an asbestos abatement agreement with low bidder Neuber Environmental Services Inc. of Phoenixville for $733,880. Other bidders were Bristol Environmental LLC for $2.95 million and Plymouth Environmental Co. for $915,754. The low bidder was vetted and provided a letter of recommendation.
- Pay third quarter invoices for fiscal year 2025-26 totaling just over $4.68 million for services provided to Children & Youth Services.
- Provide a case management system contract with AVANCO for 2026-27 totaling $38,664.05 for Children & Youth Services.
- Sign a $224,000 service agreement with Intellias for new payroll, bills payable, and fiscal/finance software, replacing a 30-year-old system. The motion was approved 2-1, with commissioner Jo Ellen Litz voting no, citing the elimination of paper paystubs for county employees since the new system does not include functionality to print them. In a related matter, Litz made a motion to resume providing paper paystubs to the employees, but it died due to a lack of a second.
- Accept various personnel transactions, including the rehiring of Brian Deiderick effective June 29 as the First Assistant District Attorney at a biweekly rate of $4,427.20, which is the same as when he resigned. Deiderick worked in the DA’s office from May 2024 through November 2025, then left that position to accept a job as a senior deputy district attorney in Cumberland County. Deiderick replaces Amy Mueller, whose last day in the DA’s office is June 12.
- Grant real estate tax exemptions to seven fully disabled veterans or their families.
- Reappoint Raymond Bender, Phillip Hess, and Steven Toler to the Clarence Schock Memorial Park at Governor Dick board of directors for three-year terms running through June 30, 2029.
- Pay a $1,200 invoice to Kegerris Outdoor Advertising of Fayetteville for two digital billboard ads in Lebanon County advertising the America250 event on July 4 at the Lebanon Expo Center & Fairgrounds.
- Ratify three PCoRP loss prevention grant program applications. Applications include: receiving $7,155 to remove old pavers and a bench, grind down two stumps, and remove high dirt and level an area at Probation Services, 508 Oak St., Lebanon; $1,200 to trim four trees at the front of the Lebanon County Correctional Facility parking lot at 730 E. Walnut St., Lebanon; and $228 to purchase Physio-Control LIFEPAK Quik-COMBO infant/child electrode pads and LIFEPAK Quick Combo Redi-Pak adult electrode pads.
- Deny a hotel tax grant application fund request totaling $5,000 to Drunken Smithy LLC for their Nord Mead Fest 2026. The reason for the refusal was a lack of information proving that out-of-town guests are attending this event since the grant program is designed to put heads in county-based hotel beds.
- Proclaim June 1-5 as Child Welfare Professionals Appreciation Week.
- Approve the minutes of their May 21 meeting.
Executive session
Commissioners went into executive session immediately following the meeting to discuss personnel matters.
Assessment appeals board
On Thursday afternoon, the county’s assessment board was convened to consider one item of business, but the person did not present any evidence for the board to make a decision regarding the assessed value, so the assessment for 34 Park Drive, Grantville, remains unchanged, according to county officials.
Next meeting
Lebanon County Commissioners meet the first and third Thursday of the month at 9:30 a.m. in Room 207 of the county municipal building, 400 S. 8th St., Lebanon. The next regularly scheduled meeting is on Thursday, June 18.
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