May 19, 2013 3 min read

Do you think using a portion of our county’s 2012 Marcellus shale impact fees to fund a partnership with Uniontown Hospital to improve the health care of Fayette County citizens is a good use of this money? My fellow two commissioners do, and they plan on making it official at our  commissioners meeting on Thursday.

On Tuesday at our agenda meeting, Commissioner Ambrosini revealed that he has been representing the commissioners in talks with Uniontown Hospital and a consultant. Ambrosini said an assessment was done which shows Fayette County citizens are generally in poor health with a high obesity rate and that, with this partnership and some of our 2012 Marcellus shale funds, this partnership can develop an implementation plan for the health care improvement of Fayette County citizens.

Citizens, don’t get me wrong, I want all of you to be fit and healthy; however, it is not the role of county government to get you fit and healthy, let alone use 2012 Marcellus shale funds to get you there.

With respect to the 2013 funds, at the March agenda meeting there was no discussion or vote regarding changing the language of Act 13 nor allocating the 2013 impact fees. I left that meeting assuming my absence at the next meeting would not be a problem. Well, while I was participating in a CCAP conference, my fellow commissioners changed the agenda at the last minute. First, they changed the legislative language of Act 13 stating it was too restrictive. They said changing the language would allow them to more freely spend the impact fee as they see fit. Upon my return from Harrisburg, I confirmed with the PUC that changing the language resulting in changing the legislative intent is not permissible. Second, my fellow commissioners at the last minute and without first allowing public comment allocated the 2013 impact fees. The PUC has not issued letters informing counties of the 2013 appropriations, nor have counties received those funds, so there was no need for them to have taken this action, let alone in this manner. Were the solicitors sleeping?

There are several entities and organizations which would benefit by receiving these funds; however, as commissioners, it is our responsibility to allocate them where they will do the most good and are most needed. It is also our duty to allocate these funds in accordance with Act 13.

These monies are not to be a windfall used to balance budgets, make miscellaneous purchases or be political in nature.

Fayette County Commissioner Angela Zimmerlink