(7/2023) As anticipated voter turnout for the May 16 Primary Election across Adams County was very light, with only 23% of voters exercising that privilege - despite beautiful election day weather. Of 14,122 ballots cast 4,521 were mailed in. Interest and participation in School Board races were of prime interest this cycle, and several write-ins displaced incumbents. The large number of write-ins on the ballots were unusual with a whooping 29 write in candidates moving forward to the November General Election for School Board, Township, and Borough offices.

Of special note to Adams County voters is that the Adams County Voter Registration & Elections Office will be relocating from the Courthouse to the Department of Emergency Services (911) facility in August. In the past several years elections dynamics have changed dramatically with mail-in ballots and increased voter interest, causing the need for increased oversight, security, resources and personnel. Beside a larger and more secure office facility for records and equipment, patrons will find parking convenient and free.

The Adams County Library System has recently revealed that a 6-year search to upgrade and improve their facility, has resulted in an agreement of purchase with the United Lutheran Seminary to purchase three dormitories on the seminary campus. Library administration met with the commissioners to update them on the plan. The plan currently is to demolish the existing structures and replace them with an efficient one-story complex. The library would still be in Gettysburg Borough, still walkable for residents of Gettysburg, be next door to YWCA programs, have easy parking options and Rabbit Transit bus service.

The present building was deemed too expensive to repair and maintain. The library will then sell the former post office building. It was determined to make necessary repairs to the old post office facility would still not result in a satisfactory product for a library. Both office space and condos have been thrown around as ideas for that iconic downtown building, so that will be very interesting to watch unfold.

Speaking of the Adams County Library, at the May 17 Commissioners Public Meeting the Board acted on a recommendation from Heidi Gillis, President of the Board of Trustees, to officially appoint Sheila Fleischer, Julie Ransey, and Rita Rice to the Adams County Library Board of Trustees for a three-year term effective April 27, 2023. A sincere thank you to these three residents for stepping up to serve on the board at this very critical juncture.

Cybersecurity continues to be a major priority for the County. It is important because cyberattacks pose notable risk to the public services our local government provides. Most business operations are centered around technology being secure and available to deliver these public services. Additionally, the data the County stores and retains must be protected and secured from bad actors who are motivated to steal it for financial gain. Thus, the County has put numerous protections in place to combat these threats.

A few of these measures include: contracted cybersecurity firm, multi-state information sharing and analysis center (MS-ISAC) advisory report analysis, penetration testing, tabletop cybersecurity exercises, email and data encryption techniques, email & web filters, advanced malware security solutions, vulnerability scanning solutions, phishing exercises, backup and restoration improvements, record retention education, asset tracking software, security logging solutions, and physical destruction of data storage hardware.

We are pleased to report the CCAP Unemployment Compensation (UC) Trust Board of Trustees has authorized the payment of a $3 million cash dividend to all members who, as of December 31, 2022, have an Eligible Account Balance with the Trust. Adams County will receive a $47,707 dividend payment, via paper check, in June. The UC Board of Trustees congratulated Adams County on their success in retaining quality employees and using effective hiring and termination practices.

If you have never taken the opportunity to go the Commissioners Page of the Adams County website, then go to the archived TGIF section, give it a look, and view the outstanding work that Adams County IT does in bringing the TGIF bi-weekly newsletter to life with color and vivid illustrations! From the beginning 11 years ago, and several hundred newsletters cranked out, one person has contributed immensely to making TGIF come to life as a state-wide award-winning newsletter. Thank you, Adams County IT Lead & Network Specialist Chip Guise for his contribution to keeping staff and Adams County residents informed.

At the Wednesday June 14 commissioners public meeting, an initial public hearing was held to announce the next round of Community Block Grants. Any government agency or non-profit with a qualifying project can apply to the Adams County Office of Planning & Development. Applications must be submitted by July 28. Broadly speaking, Community Block Grants can be utilized for community development and social services. Block grants are fixed pots of money that the federal government gives to states to provide benefits and services. For more information and guidelines contact Deana Duvall, Grant Coordinator 717-337-9824 ext. 3006.

The historic Sachs Mill Covered Bridge is a cherished iconic landmark in Adams County. It is certainly one of my favorite views in Adams County. In the Fall when the leaves are bursting with color, stop on the Pumping Station Road bridge and look south down Marsh Creek. It’s a picture postcard! When Marsh Creek is frozen, and snow covered in winter it is stunning! Thank goodness a previous board of commissioners chose to preserve it when it washed downstream in the 70’s during hurricane Agnes.

At the June 7th commissioners public meeting the board signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with The Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society of Pennsylvania, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and restoration of covered bridges in Pennsylvania. This MOU provides for the painting of the historic Sachs Covered Bridge by the Society - at no additional cost to the County. The Society will paint the outside of the bridge and apply flame retardant to the inside of the bridge. Work is anticipated to begin the first week of August 2023. The MOU is effective June 7, 2023.

It is a fact that we take for granted the 40 county owned bridges that allow us to traverse Adams County. The bridges are very diverse in age, history, and structure. Each year maintenance of the bridges is prioritized by inspections of county bridges by Bridge Engineer Pennoni Associates. Based on bid price and the ability to perform, at the June 7 public meeting, the commissioners signed a $489,628.19 contract with Jay Fulkroad & Sons of McAllisterville to perform the repairs and maintenance.

Funding emergency and 911 service is an essential and critical service, but costly to provide. County’s get some reimbursement, but the difference comes out of the General Fund – thus the taxpayer’s pocket. The Pennsylvania House recently passed 121-82 a bill that will increase the existing $1.65 monthly fee to $1.97 on Pennsylvania telephone bills. The funds will support equipment, operations and upgrade outdated technology. The new fee is expected to generate an additional $30 million per year state-wide.

Both the Adams County Board of Commissioners and the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania supported the increase but have called for a higher amount in the range of $2.20. According to Adams County Department of Emergency Services Director Warren Bladen and the Adams County Budget office, the cost of County funded emergency services is approximately $700 per Adams County household per year. The total 911 budget is $3.7M with revenues of only $2.1M. The overall Department of Emergency Services budget is approximately $4.5M with revenues of $2.2M. Unfortunately, neither the current rate, nor the newly enacted rate, off-set the cost of service or the deficit for 911!

No matter what you do, get out there and experience all the historical, recreational, agricultural, natural and cultural opportunities that beautiful Adams County has to offer!