Tuesday, March 31, 2009

County Commissioners meet in Marietta Borough

Tonight the Lancaster County Commissioners held their weekly public meeting in the picturesque Marietta Borough Municipal Building in Downtown Marietta. The meeting, which is typically held in Downtown Lancaster, continued a longstanding tradition of County Commissioners periodically meeting in other parts of the County to more effectively engage with the diverse communities of this immense region.

Early in the meeting, Marietta Borough Council President Miriam Fletcher, addressed the commissioners on behalf of the local government. Fletcher expressed gratitude for the County’s role in the effort to revitalize the post-industrial riverfront neighborhood; one such contribution has been the provision of Urban Enhancement Funds for the renovation of Marietta’s town square, which, according to Fletcher, “is the heart of the Borough.”

Also, the Borough has been assisted by the Lancaster County Planning Commission in the early planning stages of the possible development of a post-industrial plot of land; the proposed plan would create an affordable housing facility for senior citizens. The Borough is currently in the process of seeking a developer, as well as project funding. Fletcher indicated that Federal money is not yet out the question.

Also at tonight’s Meeting, the County Commissioners approved a change order providing an additional $6,500 for Rettew Associates “in the design of the new Big Chickies Creek Bridge #2 on Action Road located in Rapho and East Hempfield Townships.”

The Commissioners also approved the procurement of claims management services from Murray Risk Management and Insurance, which is based in Lancaster. The switch from Travelers Insurance to Murray not only recruits locally-based service, but also will provide the County and immediate savings of $7,000.