Greene commissioners expected to declare county was in state of emergency
WAYNESBURG – At their regular meeting this morning, the Greene County commissioners are expected to formally declare what residents already know: the county was in a state of disaster emergency on President’s Day after a winter storm dumped 2 feet of snow on the area. According to Jeff Marshall, emergency management coordinator for the county, six municipalities – Waynesburg and Jefferson boroughs, as well as Dunkard, Perry, Greene and Springhill townships – immediately declared a state of emergency that day, appealing to the county for help.
However, the county’s limited amount of equipment and staff wasn’t adequate in such a situation. That’s why the state Department of Transportation stepped in to help. But in order for municipalities to be reimbursed for the costs of cleaning up after the storm, the commissioners have to declare that the county was indeed in a state of emergency.
Marshall said the price tag for the cleanup is about $240,000 for the county and the 26 townships and boroughs.
“In a single storm, they spent two-thirds of their winter operating budgets,” he said.
The paperwork for the funds already has been turned in to the state, he noted, adding that he wasn’t sure when the money would be released.
The last time a state of emergency was declared in Greene County was during the snowstorm in 1996.
In other business, the commissioners are expected to approve a $4,700 training coordination agreement between the county EMA and the state Department of Health.
Marshall said the grant would be used to hire a part-time staff person to hold training for public education and outreach regarding emergency medical technicians.
“With eight volunteer fire departments and one paid ambulance service for the whole county, we need volunteers,” he said.
Doug Young of Jefferson, who recently passed away, had conducted the training. Young had been a volunteer.
Also during this morning’s meeting, the commissioners will officially approve the final Greene County 2003 assessed valuation summary, based on the countywide property reassessment.
The commissioners had certified the assessment figures in November, but adjustments for such things as properties that qualified for the state Clean and Green program still had to be made, according to John Frazier, chief assessor.
Total valuation figures are as follows: land, $340,396,140; improvements, $669,203,950; gas and oil, $9,246,110; and coal $452,001,020. The total countywide valuation is $1,470,847,220.
Frazier noted that these figures include the $81 million assessment of the Hatfield’s Ferry Power Plant, but that value is still under appeal in Greene County Court.
Total tax at face value, including the Hatfield’s assessment, is $7,971,991.93.
The commissioners also plan to award a contract for the waste tire removal from the former Ruschel’s Salvage Yard near Dry Tavern. The county earlier had received a $40,000 grant from the state Department of Environmental Protection for this project.
The commissioners also invited the public to attend the farewell ceremony for the Waynesburg National Guard to be held at 4 p.m. March 11 on the Greene County Courthouse steps.
Company C 1/110th Infantry Mechanized is scheduled for deployment to Kosovo in June to join the United Nations peacekeeping efforts. Of the 100 men in the unit, 60 are from Greene County. The Waynesburg unit last was deployed overseas during the Korean War.
Sponsored by the Waynesburg Area Chamber of Commerce, the ceremony will include a project overview by Capt. Troy Admundson. Music will be provided by the Bella Voce Children’s Choir, under the direction of Angela Smith, as well as Tome Custer and Bobby Cowell, who will present patriotic music.
The Pennsylvania 140th Volunteers, American Legion members and the Veterans of Foreign Wars will present the color guard.
The chamber has asked all downtown businesses to decorate their storefronts in red, white and blue, in support of the troops.
Melody Longstreth, chamber director, said her office is organizing a database of local businesses that would be willing to support the families of the soldiers by offering free or discounted services or merchandise.
“Things as mundane as mowing the lawn, getting the car inspected or changing a furnace filter that may have always been handled by the soldier will need to be addressed by their spouse or other family member during the deployment,” Longstreth said. “The business community can support the families by helping to address basic needs, offering discounts on anything from movie rentals to attorney fees and donating items to be sent in care packages to the men.”
Longstreth noted that the chamber office has a list of items anyone can donate to be placed in the care packages, which will be sent to the troops after they reach Kosovo.
In case of inclement weather, the farewell ceremony will be held at the Waynesburg College gymnasium. For more information, call the chamber office at 724-627-5926.