By Joseph Bell

Record Staff Writer

 Elk County’s commissioners approved several agenda items regarding its Emergency Management department during yesterday’s meeting at the Courthouse Annex.
The elected officials first discussed a three-year 911 Telephone Access Plan and contribution rate for emergency services.
“This is to establish the $1.50 that will be collected and returned to the county for reimbursement of expenses,” said chairperson June H. Sorg. “This will also designate (Berniece Jarbeck) as our 911 coordinator. The commissioners had established this way back in November of 1993 so (Jarbeck) has been doing this for awhile.”
The commissioners also approved an agreement between the Commonwealth Law Enforcement Assistance Network and Elk County appointing Michael McAllister as the representative for the county.
“Mike (McAllister) has had a chance to review this and he’s recommended that we go ahead with this,” Sorg said.
According to Jarbeck, the Commonwealth Law Enforcement Assistance Network pertains to legal aspects.
“That’s what we do all the legal stuff with, with the police and the district attorney and district justice, where we do criminal histories and run license plates and do all that work for them,” Jarbeck said. “We need a security officer for that and that’s kind of what that agreement is and we’ve always had that in the past, it’s just that they got a new lieutenant in Harrisburg and so we need to do a new agreement. Since Mike (McAllister) is the IT (Information Technology) person for our computers and all that, we asked him to be the security officer for that.”
The commissioners also approved an updated 911 plan with Elk County emergency services and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency recognizing their moral and legal responsibility to provide 911 emergency communications planning to protect their citizens in the event of an emergency.
“Under Act 78, which is our Pennsylvania 911 law, we have to submit a plan every three years outlining what we do with the $1.50 which we collect and it not only covers the financial (aspect), but it also covers the technical (aspect) and what improvements we’ve made to the 911 center,” Jarbeck said. “We recently had to update everything to accept wireless calls and now we can get that in and get the location of them. Next project will be our voiceover IP where they can dial 911 through their computer so I have to outline all of that in the plan itself and that will go to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management (Agency) and they will approve it. It is then sent for financial approval.”
In other business, Schreiber Reporting Services will continue to provide their services for Elk County in 2009.
“If it’s four hours for the day then it’s $135. Appearances scheduled less than 48 hours in advance, there would be a $25 assessment,” said Sorg, breaking down the costs. “Appearances occurring before 8:30 a.m. or after 4:30 p.m. would be set for $40 per hour. It’s basically the same that we’ve had before.”
According to Elk County Commissioner Daniel R. Freeburg, Screiber Reporting Services has routinely provided excellent services to the county.
“They do a great job,” Freeburg said.
Out of the county’s Veterans Affairs office, the commissioners also approved three widow burial allowances, as well as five burial allowances and five headstones.
Three more contracts for the county’s Children & Youth Services department were approved, including Tioga County Department of Human Services (Wellsboro); Western Pa. Child Care (Emlenton); and Professional Family Care Services, Inc. (Johnstown).
Also, Elk County Sheriff Jeffrey C. Krieg is again taking the necessary steps to have his employees provide services and assist in the patrolling of the East Branch Dam area during the summer recreation months.
“This is to approve the draft to be sent in to the East Branch Dam and it has explanations for all the costs and use of vehicles, miles, gas mileage, and even change of oil,” Sorg said. “Total personnel costs per hour is $18.71 and total vehicle cost per hour is $4.65 and total administrative costs per hour would be $2.10. Total cost per hour would be $25.46 per hour.”
According to Krieg, the initial paperwork is to be sent to U.S. Army Corps of Engineer officials at East Branch Dam.
“Then from there, it will go to the Pittsburgh office. It usually takes several months before it’s approved and sent back,” Krieg said. “It could be as early as May this year and the $10,000 that we got from them last year, this year, they want to give us $15,000, so that’s good news.”