Juniata County recognizes $50,000 in shale grants for safety, stormwater work

BY BRIAN CARSON

MIFFLINTOWN — Juniata County officials recognized two $25,000 Marcellus Shale Legacy Fund grants Tuesday for projects aimed at improving public access, safety and stormwater control in Port Royal Borough and Milford Township.

The grants will help Port Royal Borough improve access to its municipal office and help Milford Township replace a pipe crossing on Riverway, where flooding and washouts have created recurring problems.

Brad Kerstetter, director of the county Planning and Community Development Department, said the county has received Marcellus Shale money for about 10 to 12 years, although future funding is not guaranteed.

“As we get them, we’d like to give the municipalities a chance to apply for this grant funding and turn that grant funding over to them to get your work done,” Kerstetter said.

The projects could have visible effects for residents. In Port Royal, the money is expected to help make the borough office entrance safer and more accessible. In Milford Township, the work is intended to move more water through the crossing during flooding and reduce the chance of future washouts.

Sue Pontius, secretary-treasurer for Thompsontown Borough, said the borough plans to use its grant for work at the borough office, which moved from the former blue building to Mill Street after the borough bought a former church last April.

Pontius said the entrance includes a steep flight of steps that can become hazardous in winter.

“When you go to walk up, poor Ricky spends hours taking the ice off there so we can go in,” Pontius said.

Pontius said the borough wants to remove that section, improve the entrance, and explore adding an accessible entrance on one side. She said the concrete is deteriorating, and the guardrail also needs work.

“We want to welcome the people,” Pontius said, describing the work as both a safety issue and an effort to improve the look of the entrance.

Milford Township’s grant will be used for work along Riverway, where flooding has caused repeated problems.

Steve Baumgartner, representing Milford Township, said the Riverway floods frequently and a flash flood about a year ago caused washouts along the riverbank and at a pipe crossing. He said the Juniata County Conservation District helped repair the riverbank and recommended a larger pipe.

Baumgartner said the township plans to install a 36-inch concrete pipe and concrete headwalls. He said the work should allow more water through the crossing and help prevent similar washouts.

Kerstetter said the two projects show the range of work eligible for the funding.

“It’s amazing to me the different types of projects that come in and that are eligible for this funding,” Kerstetter said. “So, yeah, it’s good funding. I hope it sticks around.”

Commissioners also approved Resolution 2026-3, establishing a fee schedule for the release of the county’s complete CAMA dataset. Michael Hower, director of Assessment and GIS, said the change stems from the countywide reassessment and updates a price set during the county’s last reassessment in 1973.

Hower said many counties are moving to a per-parcel fee structure so the cost can reflect the size of the dataset.

Commissioners also approved Resolution 2026-4, revising the fee for processing delinquent real estate tax claim files. Hillary Kindervater, director of Tax Claim, said the county previously charged $250 for the file and will now charge $750.

Kindervater said settlement companies and mortgage companies request the files, and the county typically receives six to eight requests per year. She said the county’s software company can charge $250 for the file, meaning the additional fee would allow the county to net $500 from some requests.

In other action, commissioners ratified a $39,278.36 transfer from the Keystone Opportunity Zone account to the General Fund because of a deposit error from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Commissioners also accepted the resignation of Bailey Haubrick as a caseworker at the Juniata County Children and Youth Office, effective at the end of business on May 8.

The board reviewed April reports from the Treasurer’s Office, Assessment Office and Sheriff’s Office; approved tax exonerations for Delaware Township; and approved payment of checklist Nos. 78354 through 78504 totaling $69,842.42.

No business was scheduled for the Salary Board, Retirement Board, or Board of Elections.