NEW TRACKING SYSTEM
By Travis Moshier Endeavor News

Potter County will soon be using a new system to track criminals and alert victims of location changes.

Christy Steiner, the county's victim and witness coordinator, spoke to the Potter County Commissioners during their meeting Thursday about the Pa. Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification (SAVIN) system.

Steiner explained that part of her position involves making sure victims' rights are upheld, which includes notification of sentencing, parole and transfers. The new system will automatically notify the victim via phone calls and e-mail, if requested, or the victim can anonymously log into the website to check the offender's status.

Potter County is one of only three counties not yet using the system, which will be tied in to a computer system at the jail and update itself every 15 minutes, she said.

It's programmed to automatically call the victim every two hours until the victim is notified or until 72 hours had passed. Steiner also said that she will continue to contact the victims herself.

The initial setup of the system and the first year are paid for through a grant, she said, adding that a meeting on finances would be held with the commissioners in the next two weeks when more information is available.

The system is not mandatory, and the county can back out in the future if the board so chooses. The board approved a memorandum of understanding with the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Institute for implementing the SAVIN system.

The 21st Century Grant positions were filled during the meeting, following a couple rounds of bid requests.

Debra Heroux will be the site coordinator at Northern Potter for $12 per hour, working 25 hours per week in the first year and 20 hours per week the following two.

Daniel Reilly will be the site coordinator in Galeton Area School, also for $12 per hour with 25 hours per week the first year and 20 hours per week the next two.

Monica Fourness will be the project coordinator and site coordinator at Oswayo Valley High School, working 30 hours per week at $22 per hour for the first year. The second and third years of the grant will be at $23 per hour for 25 hours per week.

The board also accepted Fourness' resignation from her position as secretary and clerk for public defender Brent Petrosky. A temporary emergency staffer will be hired at $8.20 per hour for a period of no longer than 60 days.

Kevin Gledhill, GIS Specialist at the Emergency Management Agency, also submitted a resignation effective May 19. He had served in that position since March 2006.

The 911 building is requiring extra work and time. The board approved change orders for re-roofing the building, accessibility changes and alterations to the information technology area worth almost $30,000. The contract time was also increased by 45 calendar days.

Commissioner Susan Kefover remarked on the "lively discussion" at Galeton's town meeting, in which around 70 residents talked about economic development initiatives and the PennDOT work on U.S. Route 6 in Galeton.

Commissioner Paul Heimel reflected on his visit to the Governor's Conference of Travel and Tourism at Gettysburg. The purpose of the conference was to "make sure people are working in concert to bring in tourists," he said.

The difference between entertainment tourism - places such as Disneyland and amusement parks - and placebased tourism was one of the main topics, Heimel said, adding that Potter County's place-based tourism builds relationships with the tourists that will keep them coming back.

The commissioners will meet at 11 a.m. May 22 in their office in the courthouse.