Luzerne County Children and Youth Renaming; county fair seeks $500,000

WILKES-BARRE — The Luzerne County Council on Tuesday approved changing the name of the Child and Youth Services Agency and granted a request to provide half a million dollars to the Luzerne County Fair.

The council passed all 18 agenda items almost unanimously, including changing the name to Luzerne County Children, Youth and Families, which the resolution said “is a more appropriate reflection of the agency’s mission, vision and values.”

During the work session, Luzerne County Fair President Alan Pugh asked the city council to consider awarding the fair up to $500,000 in American Rescue Plan funds to help repair damage to the grounds and facilities caused by severe flooding last September.

Pugh said total damages were more than $700,000 and the application for federal aid was denied, as was an appeal of that decision. He said the fair’s insurance would not pay because flooding was not covered.

Pugh noted that in addition to being the site of an annual fair, as the pandemic worsened, the fairgrounds were also used by many community organizations, as well as a Covid-19 vaccination site.

Councilor Harry Haas asked how the fair would cover the cost of repairs if council did not approve the grant.

Pugh said he had no idea.

Also during a work session:

IT Director Andrew Mesaris asked the city council to approve a three-year, $1.69 million contract with Microsoft to purchase software and license the operating system and office software.
Chris Belleman, executive director of the Flood Protection Authority, and Steve Moore of engineering firm GPI described the condition of the county-owned Stephenson Street Bridge in Duryea as poor and posing a catastrophic risk of flooding if it failed. The council will ultimately have to decide whether to repair or demolish at least part of the bridge, which Keith Moss, Duryea’s emergency management coordinator and former mayor, said is only used for evacuations and emergencies and as a trailhead. Council President John Lombardo said further discussion with local officials and authorities would be necessary before any decisions were made.

During the vote, the council also adopted:

Memoranda of understanding – essentially contract changes – with Teamsters Union Local 401 for the departments on Aging, Children, Youth and Families, and Mental Health and Developmental Services.
Extending deadlines for American Rescue Plan-funded projects in Shickshinny and Plymouth townships for road drainage and flood wall rehabilitation, respectively; the city of Hazleton for stormwater management work on 21st Street; and the Wyoming Valley Sanitation Authority for rehabilitating 1 mile of old pipelines in Wilkes-Barre.
Transferring remaining funds from the district’s lock replacement project to the prison elevator project.
Capital Plan 2025.
Appointments of Coray Mitchell to the Flood Control Authority and Kristen Coffay to a student position on the Luzerne-Wyoming County Drug and Alcohol Executive Committee.
Fiscal 2024 budget adjustments to include rent for the Department of Veterans Affairs office at Hazleton City Hall.
MHDS budget amendment to reflect receipt of a two-year $107,580 grant.
Development of the Strategic Management Plan and the Five-Year Financial Plan of the District.
Providing a matching grant of $830,104 for County Transportation Authority operations.
Property tax abatement totaling $1,136 for three properties on Carey Avenue in Wilkes-Barre to be donated to Habitat for Humanity.