FIRST OF 'TOWN MEETINGS' HELD
Commissioners hear citizen concerns in Austin

Austin Area School District superintendent Matt Hutcheson addresses commissioners (from left) Doug Morley (chairman), Paul Heimel and Susan Kefover during a town meeting at the school last week.

A new tradition in Potter County kicked off Monday night at the Austin Area School, where the Potter County Board of Commissioners drew a full house to their first in a series of "town meetings."

Purpose of the sessions was more to listen than to talk, explained Chairman Doug Morley, but the commissioners did plenty of both during an upbeat, far-ranging community forum that lasted for more than two hours.

Commissioners Morley, Paul Heimel and Susan Kefover weren't shy about sharing their vision of a county government that embraces viewpoints from communities small and large.

With a little encouragement, residents of Austin Borough and nearby townships embraced the open format and spoke calmly and candidly about their concerns and challenges.

Much of the give-and-take was focused on an evolving plan being worked out among Austin Borough, Keating Township and the Austin Dam Memorial Association (ADMA) to make better use of the property running north to south between the dam ruins and downtown Austin.

Most of the property, a portion of which is currently occupied by an abandoned, flooded-out paper mill and other remnants of a bygone era, is owned by the borough.

ADMA recently leased its nearly 80 acre park site to the borough, which is in the process of applying for a planning grant that will fund a study to determine how the property will be used. Goal is to connect the borough's 15-acre tract at the site of the papermill ruins with the park and a tract owned by Patterson Lumber between the two.

The study and subsequent plan will cost $60,000. The group is in line to get a $30,000 grant from the Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources. How the group will fund the matching $30,000 is still up in the air.

If the funds can be obtained and a planning consultant is hired, the group will hold open meetings and encourage pubic input as to how the property ought to be developed.

Representatives from Wharton and Keating townships urged the three commissioners to go to bat for them in efforts to get more state funds. They cited deteriorating roads due to excessive truck traffic from logging operations, as well as oil and gas exploration.

The commissioners agreed to write a letter to state legislators and Gov. Ed Rendell in support of township supervisors' request for a share of proceeds from the sale of timber on state-owned land.

Art Moate from Keating Township complained about a county ordinance requiring that all garbage be disposed of at the Potter County Solid Waste Authority transfer station in Gold.

Commissioner Morley investigated the issue and reported later that the county's ordinance was the result of a state mandate.

Austin Area School Superintendent Matthew Hutcheson detailed the financial strains affecting the school district as the result of a limited tax base. Hutcheson also asked the commissioners to support after school programs and other initiatives that directly affect the region's young people.

He specifically asked commissioners to look into how they could help develop a family center environment for preschool children.

"Our children need more early-learning opportunities," Hutcheson said. "We are one of the only communities that lack a family center."

Commissioners pledged their support if a push was made for early childhood development programs in Austin.

Both sides of the controversial wind turbine issue were aired by the commissioners. One citizen said the construction of turbines could benefit the county economically and reduce reliance on fossil fuels in generating electricity.

Another argued that locating turbines on Potter County's ridges would diminish the scenery and detract from the quality of life.

Commissioner Heimel announced that he is studying scientific reports on the potential impact of wind turbines' noise on human health. Heimel also announced that he'll be traveling to three southwestern Pennsylvania counties next week to tour industrial wind operations and meet with government leaders and other citizens.

Next commissioners' town meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 22, at 7 pm at the Coudersport High School.