By LAURA JAMESON ljameson@lockhaven.com
LOCK HAVEN - The Clinton County Board of Commissioners heard from Planner/Engineer Steve Gibson regarding potential easements that would push the Bald Eagle Valley Trail Phase 5 project forward.
Gibson told the board during its work session Monday that he would be looking for approval of three easements for Phase 5. This phase would connect the trail to the Pine Creek Rail Trail in Lycoming County. It begins on the Pine Creek Township side of Katie's Crossing and travels through to South Avis, where it would enter Lycoming County.
"The easements were put together and negotiated by PennDOT. They were evaluated by PennDOT's land assessment person," Gibson said.
The easements include:
- A temporary construction easement with SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority for construction access to the work site.
- A temporary construction easement with South Avis Realty for access to the work site and also the purchase of a permanent right-of-way to allow access to the trail across the property.
- A temporary construction easement with Riverbend Farms for access during construction and a permanent right-of-way access for the trail.
"That would be all three property exchanges or payments for the entire property," Gibson said.
The easements will be on the board's agenda during its work session on Thursday, Jan. 25.
In other business the board:
- Heard from a county resident who asked if there were any ordinances in place to prevent migrants from being bused into the county. "We've all seen the videos of sanctuary cities busing migrants to other communities," she said.
Both Vice Chair Jeff Snyder and Commissioner Angela Harding noted an issue such as that would relate to the federal or state government.
"I have personal feelings abouts migration issues but I don't believe it's an issue dealing with county government," Snyder said. "It is an issue that I believe has to do with federal government and not county government."
Snyder further noted there were issues the county faced at the moment that were more pressing.
"I'm the kind of person that we have enough issues to deal with instead of creating issues," he said. "I don't believe at this time it is an issue that is concerning Clinton County."
Harding noted the county, to her knowledge, has not dealt with an issue such as the one presented, but said there are organizations within the community whose purpose is to help those in need.
"We have a lot of really caring people and organizations in this community that, if that should happen because the federal or state (government)… would by some stretch of the imagination pick Clinton County as a drop off point, we as a community would do everything we could to try to help these folks… help them get where they need to be," she said.
Harding further noted the county doesn't always have enough resources to help its own residents, including with housing and other needs.
"We don't have enough housing for the people that live here now or enough resources for them," she said. "From a county government standpoint, my personal opinion is that we don't need a resolution to help people. And if they can't be here or shouldn't be here then we'd do everything we could to help them get where they need to be and have the things that they need."
- Emergency Management Coordinator Scott Kemmerer told the board the county's Hazardous Mitigation Plan will be on the agenda for approval on Thursday.
"When that's done we can approach the municipalities who participated. They have, I believe, up to 12 months to adopt the plan as well," he said.
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