Mifflin County Commissioners Honor Corrections Staff, Approve Jail Contract Rate Increase

BY BRIAN CARSON

LEWISTOWN — Mifflin County commissioners recognized employees at the Mifflin County Correctional Facility on Thursday, proclaiming May 3-9 as Corrections Employee Week before approving an updated federal inmate housing agreement that raises the county’s daily rate from $75 to $93.

The proclamation said corrections employees help keep the justice system operating while working in an environment that requires crisis intervention, communication skills and professionalism. It also noted Pennsylvania’s long history in corrections, citing the Walnut Street Jail in Philadelphia in 1773 and Eastern Penitentiary in 1829.

Commissioner Kevin Kodish, who also serves as Prison Board chairman, said Corrections Employee Week gives the county an opportunity to recognize public servants whose work is often unseen.

“Every day, our MCCF employees walk into a challenging environment that demands professionalism, patience, and strength of character,” Kodish said in prepared remarks. “That commitment does not go unnoticed.”

Kodish said corrections employees do more than maintain safety and security. He described them as mentors, problem-solvers and role models who help bring structure and stability to a difficult setting.

For residents, the impact is practical: corrections employees help maintain safety inside the county jail, supervise offenders, and keep a key part of the criminal justice system functioning. Their work affects jail operations, public safety, and the county’s ability to house inmates safely and professionally.

Warden Jason Kormanic also praised the staff, crediting employees throughout the facility for their professionalism.

“This has been the best stop of my correctional career, and it is directly due to the staff at the Mifflin County Correctional Facility,” Kormanic said. “Our staff are among the best and most professional there is. This includes all the staff from maintenance, medical, counselors and especially the corrections officers.”

The commissioners then approved an updated agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Marshals Service for the county correctional facility to house federal inmates.

Under the agreement, the county’s daily rate will increase from $75 to $93 per inmate, while the transportation rate will increase from $21.50 to $38 per hour.

Kormanic said the county does not house many federal inmates. Officials said one federal inmate was in the facility and another was expected to return. Kormanic said the agreement does not expire automatically and is updated when the county asks the Marshals Service to revisit the terms.

Commissioners also heard an election update from Director of Elections and Voter Registration Paula Hoffman ahead of the May 19 primary.

Hoffman said the county had sent out about 1,800 mail-in ballots and had already begun receiving them back. She said some mail-in ballot packets were missing ballots because of an error, though she said the issue appeared to be mostly cleared up and confined to one Lewistown district.

Voters who believe they received an incomplete packet should contact the elections office or come in to receive a replacement ballot. Hoffman said only one ballot would be counted if a replacement was issued.

Commissioners also approved a $77,891 Justice Reinvestment Grant application to support the county probation department and the county’s 2026 Liquid Fuels distribution of up to $62,547 to all 16 municipalities.

Officials said the liquid fuels money is distributed by formula, based half on municipal mileage and half on population.

The largest project action involved the Juniata Valley YMCA. Commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding with the YMCA for a pool ceiling renovation and environmental control system improvement project funded through a $600,000 Local Share Account grant awarded to the county on behalf of the YMCA.

Because project costs exceed the grant amount, the YMCA will be responsible for $116,850, along with any additional costs that may arise.

Commissioners also approved notices of intent to award bids for the project, contingent on receipt of required performance and payment bonds and insurance. Mid-State Construction was listed for general construction at $222,850, while PBCI-Allen Mechanical and Electrical was listed for mechanical construction at $422,000.

Kristen Price, grants program administrator, said construction is expected to begin August 1 and close out around August 20.

Commissioners also approved a $27,585.75 change order from Mid-State Construction for Phase I of the Mifflin County Historic Courthouse rehabilitation project. Officials said the increase covers floor repairs and other miscellaneous repairs and had been approved by the project architect.

Commissioners also approved sending a letter to the Department of Community and Economic Development requesting more time under the county’s HOME contract for housing rehabilitation work.

Price said one home has been completed, construction is underway on a second, work on a third is expected to begin in early summer, and a fourth home is being evaluated, with potential for a fifth. The amendment would extend the timeline to December 5, 2027.

Commissioners approved a $147,700 professional and administrative services agreement with SEDA-COG for the county’s FFY 2025 Community Development Block Grant program. They also approved a time extension to June 12 for Change Order No. 3 with Guyer Brothers Inc. for the FFY 2022 CDBG Juniata Terrace Water Main Extension Project.

In tax and property matters, commissioners approved tax exoneration requests tied to a removed deck and a removed mobile home. They also accepted a $5 offer from Granville Township for a repository parcel and a $4,000 offer from MBA Builders for a repository property at 9 Chestnut St. in Lewistown, which officials said is due to be renovated and occupied by a resident.

Commissioners also approved five personnel actions: hiring Cynthia Barger as case coordinator II, accepting the retirement of Rick Boreman as field assessor, transferring Holly Yeager from fiscal assistant to accounts payable clerk, transferring Makyla Groce from accounts payable clerk to payroll manager and transferring Charity Larson from payroll manager to chief clerk in training.

Barger’s hiring is effective May 11. Boreman’s retirement is effective May 15. Yeager’s transfer was effective April 27, Groce’s transfer was effective May 4, and Larson’s transfer is effective May 11.