(7/2024) Affordable Housing remains a critical issue in Adams County and is a high priority of this Board. At the June 12 public meeting, the Board was pleased to approve an Affordable Housing Trust Fund Agreement with SCCAP. The Agreement paves the way for the phased re-development of the second floor of the old Columbia Gas Building on Stratton Street in Gettysburg that serves as SCCAP’s administrative offices for the renovation of 4 housing units. The grant award of $300,000 was approved unanimously by the Board! We appreciate SCCAP’s collaboration on this project! The Board is currently supporting a 40-unit project at Misty Ridge with a determination expected sometime in July.

Although it is very necessary, maintaining, training, and equipping a Hazardous Material Response Team, for a limited number of calls per year, is very costly. At the June 12 public meeting, the Board approved and signed a contract with York County to provide this service to Adams County. The cost will be $8000 for a term of 1-year. The Board also approved an agreement with CCAP and PEMA which affirms the existence of the Hazmat contract with York County and acknowledges the duty of the County to report dispatches of the Hazmat Response Team to the Commonwealth of PA Response & Coordination center.

The Adams County Board of Commissioners had the distinct pleasure of recognizing 100-year-old WWII veteran Levato Jacob Thomas with a proclamation pronouncing June 10 as Levato Jacob Thomas Day in Adams County. Thomas joined the WWII Nurse Cadet program and was transferred to the McGuire Army Hospital in Richmond where she remained stationed until 2 weeks after the war ended. Pridefully representing the Adams County Board of Commissioners, on Saturday, June 8, Treasurer Crissy Redding presented the proclamation with an audience of 125 family and friends of Thomas at the Gettysburg Brethren Church on Biglerville Road. Crissy reports it was a very rewarding and uplifting experience. She also reported she now has a new best friend and has been invited to visit. Thank you, Crissy, for filling in for the commissioners at this very special occasion for this Adams County veteran and her family!

At a previous public meeting, Warren Bladen, Director of the Department of Emergency Services, presented a Clinical Save Commendation from the Emergency Health Services Federation (EHSF) to Kim Hope, Telecommunicator, for providing lifesaving CPR instructions over the phone that resulted in a successful resuscitation. Unfortunately, resuscitation attempts are not often successful, so this recognition is richly deserved. Recently, our Adams County Telecommunicators have received several awards for their outstanding and critical interactions that have resulted in positive outcomes. A shout out to our telecommunicators who are always there for us 24/7 to facilitate assistance in some of our most significant times of need!

Two thousand acres of preserved Ag Land in Adams County is indeed an attention getting number! This has been achieved through a series of Agricultural Easements with Hanover Shoe Farms along with numerous partners. This land preservation legacy continues with the most recent Agricultural Easement with Hanover Shoe Farms, Inc., Union Township, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through the Department of Agriculture. The easement was approved at Wednesday’s public meeting as presented by Adams County Rural Resource Manager Ellen Dayhoff.

This Agreement provides for the purchase of a conservation easement for the purpose of preserving 161.32 acres of agricultural land owned by Hanover Shoe Farms located in Union Township. The total purchase price of the easement is $548,488.00, of which $27,424.00 will be paid for by the County and the remainder by the Commonwealth and the Township. As development pressure in the eastern part of the County accelerates, easements such as this ensure that designated portions of the County will retain the agrarian landscape that is part of our Adams County history and fabric!

There are a lot of great activities in Adams County centered around the July 4TH weekend to take advantage of, including the community celebration on July 4TH with music and fireworks at the Gettysburg Rec Park. It’s also Adams County produce time. Strawberries are over and peaches, apples, tomatoes, and sweet corn are on the horizon. Get out there and experience all the historical, recreational, agricultural, natural, and cultural opportunities that beautiful Adams County has to offer!

There are two Adams County traffic detours that may impact many Adams Countians this month. On Rt. 116W Fairfield Road, the bridge replacement project is underway near the Gettysburg Times in Cumberland Township. As crews prepared for the bridge reconstruction, PennDOT warns of possible lane restrictions over the next two weeks, and a full road closure is set to begin on July 20. PennDOT has established a detour to begin on July 20 using Knoxlyn-Orrtanna Road, Knoxlyn Road, and Route 30. All work is expected to be completed by August 14.

A detour began on June 13, on Rt 97 for a box culvert and retaining wall replacement project on Route 97 in Germany Township. The structures are located between Mathias Road and Georgetown Road just north of the Maryland state line. Weather permitting, the detour is expected to be lifted by Friday, August 16, 2024. Traffic heading north from south of the closure should take Old Hanover Road north near Union Mills in Maryland and cross into Pennsylvania where the road is designated Pine Grove Road. They should continue north on Pine Grove Road to Route 194 (Hanover Pike/King Street), then head west on that road to Littlestown Borough and Route 97. Traffic heading south from north of the closure should take Route 194 (King Street/Hanover Pike) in Littlestown Borough east to Pine Grove Road, head south on Pine Grove Road to the Maryland state line, where the road is designated Old Hanover Road, and continue to Route 97 south of the closure near Union Mills.