'REVOLUTION' IN POTTER COUNTY MANAGEMENT
By Travis Moshier Endeavor News

Potter County will "revolutionize" its financial management and government operations with the help of a $50,000 state grant.

Commissioners Doug Morley, Paul Heimel and Susan Kefover unveiled the plan at their business meeting last week. The county will contribute $5,000 in addition to some in-kind services to match the money from the Pa. Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED).

Much of the money will be used to hire a specialist who assesses the county's financial management needs and shortcomings, and then produces a plan to improve things incrementally over a five-year period.

The solution will rely heavily on technology, explained Morley, the board chairman.

Corrective actions that are developed will be audited and responsibilities assigned so that the blueprint is implemented.

"This will revolutionize the county's financial management," Commissioner Heimel said.

The board isn't waiting for the plan to consider changes, as discussions continue on the possibility of a four-day work week for county employees.

Commissioner Kefover said a committee of managers and department heads is gathering information on the amount of money that would be saved if the county could close its buildings for an extra day.

She explained that the standard work schedule was many years ago, and "times have changed."

"Anything we can do to cut the county's cost and keep the employees' fuel costs down is win-win," she said.

One proposal being studied by the group is keeping county offi ces open for 10-hour days, Monday through Thursday.

Kefover added the committee is hoping to have something concrete to present by the end of the month.

DCED also awarded a $75,000 grant to create a Pennsylvania Wilds outreach specialist position. The funds are being funneled though Potter County, where the specialist will be located to direct the multi-county tourist promotion effort.

Anne Nelson, chair for the Potter County Coalition of Life and Independence for Today (LIFT), announced that the grant that paid the salary of Ken Davis, LIFT advocacy coordinator, has run out.

"We're pretty much on our own," she said. "We're going to try to continue bringing issues in front of the county."

County offices will continue to move into the Gunzburger Building, with the commissioners and fiscal department planning to make the move next weekend and be open on July 21.

The commissioners will next meet at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 16, in their courthouse office, a change from the regular Thursday meeting to accommodate the Agriculture Progress Through Communications Day tour on July 17.