POTTER NEXT 'PRESERVE AMERICA COMMUNITY'
By Travis Moshier Endeavor News

The Potter County Commissioners Thursday laid the groundwork for the county to apply for federal funds as a "Preserve America Community."

David Brooks, executive director of the Potter County Visitors Association, explained that the resolution was part of the application process for the designation, in conjunction with the U.S. Route 6 Heritage Community process.

That process has been ongoing for two years, and upon its expected completion in June will include a Heritage Tourism Plan.

One benefit of this designation is that the federal grants can be used as match for state grants for projects dealing with the preservation and promotion of unique heritage sites, events and businesses, Brooks explained.

Grants of between $20,000 to $250,000 are available.

"This is one of the most versatile project-based funding streams I have found," Brooks said.

"This could be a really great program with no strings attached," said Commissioner Paul Heimel. "It's a 'win/win' situation."

In other business, Commissioner Susan Kefover said the turnout at the board's final two town meetings was encouraging and they brought in a good cross-section of individuals.

Heimel added that one of the "crying demands" from the residents of the Shinglehous and Ulysses areas is for high-speed internet access and cell phone coverage.

While recognizing that the two commercial adventures were not normally things commissioners got involved with, Heimel said that the board will be looking into it and seeing what it can do.

A major concern from Austin's town meeting several weeks ago is getting some response at the state level.

Commissioners Doug Morley, Heimel and Kefover are continuing to lobby for local governments to get a share of the timber sale revenue from state-owned land.

"I look at it as an asset that belongs to us," said Morley. "We provide the infrastructure and services like fire and police without getting anything in return."

Following the meeting, a fax about the issue was received from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in response to a letter sent by the commissioners to the governor's office.

The letter stated, "We believe that the DCNR Bureau of Forestry is currently providing significant benefits to the municipalities where State Forest Lands are situated. The payment in lieu of taxes (PILT) has been increased to $3.60 per acre."

The PILT is an increase of $2.40 as a whole, or 80 cents per acre to each of the school district, county and municipality where the state forest land is located.

The letter also states that forest lands require few municipal services and provide their own policing, road maintenance and fire protection.

County offices are another step closer to moving into the Gunzburger Building. Morley reported that the county had approved one of the office layout plans supplied by LaBella Associates, the company hired to perform a space needs assessment and planning study of the building.

The relocation will eventually leave only the Prothonotary, District Judge, and Judge's offices in the courthouse, he said.

Morley didn't have an answer for when the moves would begin, as some construction work needs done for security and confidentiality reasons.

Next board meeting will be Wednesday, June 4 at 11 a.m. in the courthouse. The change is to accommodate the dedication of Lyman Lake which will be taking place during the regular Thursday meeting time.