CLEARFIELD – The Clearfield County Commissioners gave a brief update Tuesday on the pockets of flooding that have occurred throughout the county due to significant rainfall over the past few days.
Board Chairman John A. Sobel reported that he’d spoken with Emergency Services Director Joe Bigar before the commissioners’ meeting. He said Bigar, along with his staff and local police, fire and first responders, are still out and trying to ensure affected citizens receive the appropriate assistance.
He said flooding impacted Mahaffey, Coalport, Philipsburg, Osceola and Chester Hill, and shelters have been opened up in the Mahaffey and Osceola areas. He said flooding also affected the low-lying areas along the river in Clearfield.
Commissioner Mark B. McCracken said local first responders have really stepped up to provide assistance over the past 24 to 48 hours.
He believed the county’s emergency preparedness plan was effective but asked citizens to “hang in there” with the possibility of more heavy rains coming from Hurricane Florence later in the week.
The commissioners also approved proclaiming Sept. 15 as Blessings from the Battle Day in Clearfield County at the request of the family of 7-year-old Brody Lanich of Clearfield.
At age 5, Brody was diagnosed with a rare form of childhood cancer and out of his infliction, his parents, family and friends have established a new 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Blessings from the Battle.
Brody’s family would like to ensure that others who have a child facing serious illness have the same support that they received from their Clearfield community during Body’s battle.
“This community really reached out to our family in an unspeakable way. It’s so hard to even express thanks,” said Pam Gabel, Brody’s grandmother. “Without that support, I’m not sure how we would have navigated through this.”
Gabel said Brody’s parents, Kristen and John, have hopes of providing financial support, assisting with lawn and pet care, helping with adoptions (for adults who suffered from a childhood illness and who can’t have children) and establishing a scholarship at St. Francis School.
Blessings from the Battle will kick-off with its first fundraiser Sept. 15, a masquerade ball at the Clearfield Curwensville Country Club, beginning at 7 p.m. The commissioners wished the family all the best with its fundraiser event and efforts.
“Brody, you are quite an impressive young man, and we see you becoming quite an impressive young adult in a few years,” Sobel said.
In other business, the commissioners:
- approved the following new hires: Philip Keith, Adult Probation Officer/Probation Department, effective, Aug. 31, and Christy Robbins-Daubs, part-time Department Clerk III/Tax Assessment, effective Sept. 4.
- approved the following employee transfers: William MacDonald, part-time Corrections Officer/Jail to temporary full-time CO/Jail, effective Sept. 4, and Kiley Smith, part-time Telecommunicator/911 to full-time Telecommunicator/911, effective Sept. 5.
- approved the following separations/retirements: Brittany Chmelar, Telecommunicator/911, effective Aug. 20, and Gabriel Ponist, part-time CO/Jail, effective Sept. 15.
- approved to rescind the acceptance of Roger Moore’s resignation as part-time CO/Jail that was previously accepted Aug. 24 and to allow him to continue with his employment without any break in service.
- approved a purchase of service agreement with Pentz Run Youth Services Inc. and Keystone Adolescent Center Inc.
- approved liquid fuel allocations to Grampian Borough, $3,000; Mahaffey Borough, $3,000; Osceola Mills Borough, $3,317.71; and Bigler Township, $3,629.43. Sobel abstained from the vote with regards to Mahaffey Borough.
- approved bills as presented by the Controller’s Office.
During the county’s salary board meeting, the board approved to collapse the position of administrative assistant in the Veterans’ Affairs office, effective Sept. 11. Commissioner John A. Sobel, chair, said there had been a resignation and since then, it’s been decided to collapse the position upon discussion with the VA director. Sobel said the commissioners will revisit the position during budget discussions later in the year. VA services will not be affected by the position collapse.
