(10/2024) On August 21st, the Adams County 911 Center improved resident safety and customer service when they transitioned from a decades old legacy call delivery system to a state-of-the-art system. The cutover consisted of two parts: the first phase was to turn up our new Carbyne APEX call handling system within the 911 center. This new system has built in redundancy and failover capabilities as well as allowing the call takers an enhanced platform for dealing with callers. These enhancements include more precise location notifications, the ability to see transcription and translation in real time, and the ability to receive still pictures and real time video from a caller using a mobile phone. This APEX call handling solution is one that we share with Cumberland, Dauphin, and Franklin Counties and we are proud to note that we are the first in the Commonwealth to have this advanced solution.

On August 14, the Board approved the Subrecipient Agreement with Collaborating for Youth for utilization of Opioid Settlement Funds in the amount of $16,000. The funds will be used towards two evidence-based substance abuse prevention programs for children in kindergarten through 6th grade. The Agreement is effective August 21, through August 2027. Adams County will receive a total of $6.4 million over 18 years in Opioid Settlement Funding to be utilized for a variety of opioid related programs that meet the settlement criteria. More program approvals are anticipated in upcoming public meetings.

With the Presidential Election looming, getting all elections results tabulated in an accurate and timely manner is critical to the elections process. With the surging popularity of mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania, and the inability to process the mail-ins before 7 a.m. on election day, the Elections Board (Commissioners) is always seeking ways to improve the process.

On September 4th, the Board of Commissioners approved a sales order agreement with Election Systems & Software (ES&S) for the purchase of a DS950 High-Speed Scanner/Tabulator (to replace an older model), accessories, and a 5-year extended warranty at a total cost of $129,230, which will be paid for from Act 88 Election Integrity Grant funds. The unit can process 280 ballots per minute and is very secure! It should be in service for this Presidential Election!

Getting out there and talking to students about their local government is important and always rewarding. Wednesday, September 4th, all three commissioners attended a Meet Your Local Government Day for Gettysburg High School Government class students. They were preparing for a debate on whether local government was more important than national government? We were joined by several Gettysburg Borough officials. We explained that local government probably impacts them more everyday then federal with the extensive menu of services. Also, local government is less politicized than state and federal government. We urged the students to become involved in their local governments, gain knowledge of the issues and candidates - and vote!

The Adams County Planting Partnership, the Adams County Conservation District, and the Watershed Alliance of Adams County, have been working together since 2018 to distribute almost 80,000 native trees and shrubs to Adams County residents. Trees planted along streams help stabilize the soil, take up excess nutrients, shade and cool the water, and provide food and shelter to fish and wildlife. Trees can also lessen the impacts of stormwater runoff and provide community and environmental benefits in urban and suburban areas as well.

The Adams County Planting Partnership’s Fall 2024 native seedling distribution is coming up. More than 8,000 trees and shrubs are being offered for free! The seedling request form will open at 9 on Saturday, September 14. The seedlings will be available for pickup at the Adams County Agricultural and Natural Resources Center. Pick up dates are tentatively scheduled for October 18 and 19. Go to www.adamscountypa.gov and then the Adams County Planting Partnership for the form and more information.

On Thursday afternoon, August 29, the Commissioners had the opportunity to meet with Congressman John Joyce and local fruit growers at Hollabaugh Bros. Farm in Biglerville. A major topic of the roundtable was Federal regulations relating to farm wages. Mandated farm worker wages are the largest cost and concern of our farmers. Also, various Federal regulations make it difficult for American farmers to compete with products coming in from other countries. For Adams County fruit growers, their ability to take fresh fruit to processors has greatly diminished causing product price and sales issues. Congressman Joyce states that he stands firmly with the proposed Farm Bill that in brief provides mandatory funding and programs for rural farmers. He is advocating for the Farm Bill to be passed when Congress goes back into session. This was a very beneficial meeting that allowed fruit growers and their legislators to have an informal information exchange. Representative Torren Ecker was also in attendance.

Preserving our agricultural lands and heritage is an on-going priority of this Board. Recently, an Agreement for the sale and purchase of an Agricultural Conservation Easement for 275 acres with Hanover Shoe Farms was approved. The parcel is in Conewago and Union Townships. Adams County total purchase price of the conservation easement is $823,860. The County will also cover the costs incident to the purchase of the easement in the amount of $15,954, which is eligible for reimbursement by the State Board. This Agreement is effective September 4. This is the main farm of the Hanover Shoe Farm operation. There are 1264 total acres preserved to date on 11 farms at Hanover Shoe Farm which have gone to settlement and preserved to date. These totals do not count the farms preserved through the Land Conservancy of Adams County. There are two farms which will settle hopefully by the end of September, this farm (275 acres) and one that went to the state for funding of 161 acres. The entire project encompasses some of the best farmland in Adams County.

Many Adams County residents are not aware that the Brethren Home at Cross Keys is not only our largest county employer but is also a huge economic driver in Adams County both institutionally and for services required by residents. It is also a convenient and beneficial resource for our senior residents. At the September 4th public meeting, the Board of Commissioners adopted Resolution No. 14 of 2024 approving the use of tax-exempt financing in the maximum amount of $120 million for the project for The Brethren Home Community doing business as Cross Keys Village, for the acquisition, construction, and furnishing of 59 independent living units and a personal care facility with 100 units, in Oxford Township, Adams County, and for the refinancing of several series of Revenue Notes, each issued for the benefit of the Corporation. This Approval is given by the Adams County Commissioners as the elected representatives having jurisdiction over the Authority and the geographic location of the facilities to be financed, and solely for the purposes of Section 147(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, following a duly advertised hearing held on August 26 at the offices of the Adams Economic Alliance. The Approval granted does not in any way pledge or obligate the credit or taxing power of the County, nor shall the County be liable for the payment of, or interest on the bonds. The Resolution was effective September 4.

I want to remind all readers that the nationally recognized National Apple Harvest Festival will take place at the South Mountain Fairgrounds October 5 and 6 & October 12 and 13. No matter what you do, get out there and experience all the historical, recreational, agricultural, natural, and cultural opportunities that beautiful Adams County has to offer!