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Cathy Jamison, counselor advocate for Your Safe Haven, pins a carnation accented with purple ribbon on Bedford Borough Police Officer Thad Yothers to help raise awareness about domestic violence.
Cathy Jamison, counselor advocate for Your Safe Haven, pins a carnation accented with purple ribbon on Bedford Borough Police Officer Thad Yothers to help raise awareness about domestic violence.
County Commissioner Deb Baughman enlisted several key players in the county’s broadband initiative to speak on the progress at the County Commissioner’s meeting Tuesday morning.
First to the podium was Alleghenies Broadband Interim Executive Director Jeff Reel, who called the attempt to bring high speed internet to a six-county region a “worthy endeavor.” The initiative was a result of a 10-year plan that showed a need for such service in Cambria, Huntingdon, Somerset, Bedford, Blair, and Fulton Counties.
“We already have $25 million coming in to the six counties,” Reel said, as he walked the audience through many of the funding sources that include federal grant monies, as well as county resources.
The first tier includes outfitting existing cell towers with new equipment, a relatively quick way to begin providing service. Thus far, 20 out of 21 of those projects are complete.
Dwayne Zimmerman, owner of Crowsnest Broadband, the internet service provider that is tackling the project, said, “If you live where you can see a tower, chances are we can get you internet service.” But Zimmerman said in some areas, equipment is mounted on silos or tall buildings, so just because a tower doesn’t exist, doesn’t mean broadband isn’t available.
Tier two, according to Reel, is the building of towers, which he explained is a longer, more expensive project that includes land acquisitions, feasibility studies, and construction. Baughman said the southeast portion of the county is most in need, and currently 18 property owners have been approached about placing towers on their land.
“We are in the process of getting ready to survey those properties,” Baughman added.
Bedford received a $5 million grant, of which the county had to match $560,000, to create 10 new towers.
“We will own those towers,” Reel said. They are expected to be finished in 2025.
The third tier involves the use of fiber optic cable in all six counties, according to Reel.
“The gold standard is going to be fiber to the home,” he explained.
There is currently a survey on the Bedford County website to try to figure out where service is lacking.
“We need community involvement,” Reel said. “We need to find out where in Bedford County we’re missing.”
Following the broadband presentation, Commissioner Barry Dallara introduced members of Susquehanna Accounting & Consulting Solutions, Inc., who are currently working to overhaul and restructure the fiscal services in the county.
Shareholders Corey Troutman said they were brought in for a myriad of things, including setting up internal control options for spendings administering programs, and fixing manual and inefficient processes, including a backlog of information that was not in the system.
Several proclamations were made, the first to declare October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Your Safe Haven Executive Director Susan Hawthorne read the proclamation, commenting, “I know it’s not a pretty topic… but there are ways to get involved.” She said wearing purple and decorating in that color can provide support for victims, and if anyone is interested in reaching out to someone they may feel is affected by domestic violence, Your Safe Haven representatives can provide help with the dialogue to broach the subject.
Peter Loehner, case manager at Personal Solutions, Inc., read a proclamation naming September as National Recovery Month for those affected by addiction.
Speaking as a representative for the Pink Ribbon Fund of Bedford, Vice President Mick Gordon read the proclamation that names October 9-15 “Pink Ribbon Fund Week” locally.
“Every cent we raise by volunteers stays here in the county,” Gordon said.
The Constitution Week Proclamation, celebrating Sept. 17-23 as Constitution Week, was read by Melissa Moorhead, regent of the Bedford chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She said that a reading of the Constitution will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. in the public square, and a display has also been set up at the Bedford County Historical Society, 6641 Lincoln Hwy, Bedford.
The Commissioners approved a motion to create an assistant chief clerk/assistant director of elections position. They also approved a multitude of new hires, transfers, separations, and expenditures.
Contact Heather Koontz at hkoontz@bedfordgazette.com; 814-623-1151, ext. 150.
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Partly cloudy. Low 58F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph..
Partly cloudy. Low 58F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
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