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EMS, hotel, oil and gas among county’s most significant stories in 2020

By Josh Cotton 8 min read

It's without question that 2020 was defined by the COVID-19 pandemic and the presidential election.

But that wasn't all that happened this year.

This week we'll take a look back at the pandemic in the county and the election but also our favorite positive stories, business news and crime news.

That starts today with the state of politics in local government in 2020.

EMS CHALLENGES

There was perhaps no more serious issue that officials worked to address this year and emergency medical services in the county.

A county-led EMS Task Force identified the specific problems and possible solutions.

It also brought people together to talk.

A couple specific collaborative initiatives took root in 2020 that could serve as potential roadmaps for long-term solutions.

One was a pilot agreement between the City of Warren and Pleasant Township -- the intermunicipal agreement would place two city EMTs at Pleasant's station from 7:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31. They would utilize Pleasant's equipment to respond to calls originating in the township.

The township would, Wren detailed after the meeting, pay just under $5,000 monthly for the coverage.

Three departments -- Cherry Grove, Clarendon and Sheffield -- have been working on their own arrangement aimed at enhancing response for their communities.

A series of meetings were quickly put together and a pilot program was implemented through the end of September -- anytime there was an EMS call in any of the three municipalities, all three agencies would respond between 5 a.m. and 5 p.m.

HOTEL PROJECT

Planning for a downtown hotel took steps forward in 2020 amid questionable transparency and significant public backlash.

A Cobblestone Inn and Suites remains the end goal as it has been for some time.

"The city is willing to donate the Breeze Point property," City Manager Nancy Freenock said at a July meeting.

"I love that park. The problem is, it's not used."

An adjacent property owner was willing to nominally sell a piece of property needed to potentially create a parcel of sufficient size.

Public opinion on the project certainly wasn't boosted when council held an executive session aimed at discussing the property that went far beyond the scope of what is permissible under the state's Sunshine Law.

Some of the items discussed included property subdivision, zoning, traffic flow, street vacation and parking. None of those items can legally be discussed in an executive session.

A rally was held in opposition to the project and public comment received on the project has been decidedly against the proposal.

However, city staff have maintained there is no specific project or layout to discuss at this point, making opposition to the project largely theoretical at this point.

ROUND AND ROUND CITY COUNCIL WENT

Warren City Council -- for the last time, we think -- settled on a proposed roundabout for the intersection of Market St. and Pennsylvania Ave.

An attempt to reverse the decision failed in a 3-3 tie at the March meeting.

Councilmen in favor argued points on safety and the costs the state has incurred that the city would be on the hook for if it changed its mind. Detractors said the roundabout doesn't reflect the will of the people.

Can it be revised yet again?

"No," City Manager Nancy Freenock said after that meeting. "PennDOT has said 'This is it.'"

Some utility identification work in June was the first physical sign of the changes that will come to the intersection. PennDOT aims to award the contract for the project in 2021.

TOWNSHIP GOES FROM 'DRY' TO 'WET'

A petition is now circulating in Pine Grove Township in an effort to change its legal beverage status from "dry" to "wet."

It has been illegal to sell alcoholic beverages in the municipality since 1935.

John Bortz Jr. has been working on this initiative since returning to his position as club manager of Cable Hollow Golf Course.

"It has been a very detailed and time-consuming effort, and one my family has been deliberating over for some time," said Bortz.

"This makes perfectly good sense if you're going to expand your restaurant business," said supervisor Carmen Ferranto. "The supervisors have been supportive from day one of (Cable Hollow getting its liquor license). We have often talked about liquor licenses in the context of economic development."

The voters overwhelmingly approved the move in a November referendum.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY DEBATES OIL AND GAS REGS, BRINE

A bill that would have created separate regulations for conventional and unconventional oil and gas operations was approved by the General Assembly but vetoed by Gov. Tom Wolf.

SB 790 ping-ponged in the General Assembly throughout this year.

The most notable amendment that was struck from the final legislation was on a thorny problem that originated in Warren County -- the original Senate bill included language that would have paved the way for oil and gas wastewater -- brine -- to be spread on dirt roads as a dust suppressant and de-icer.

Wolf vetoed the legislation raising environmental and de-regulation concerns.

FROM WARREN TO WASHINGTON

Mrs. Rapp went to Washington -- for the second time in about a year.

State Rep. Kathy Rapp, R-Warren/Crawford/Forest and chair of the state House Health Committee, was invited to the White House back in August to witness President Donald Trump sign four executive orders to decrease prescription drug costs and increase Americans' access to life-saving medications, including insulin.

At a White House ceremony Friday, Trump signed four executive orders. One was about importation. The others would direct drugmaker rebates straight to patients, provide insulin and EpiPens at steep discounts to low-income people, and use lower international prices to pay for some Medicare drugs.

"It was exciting to be there as the president signed these executive orders, which will have a direct and meaningful impact on the lives of Pennsylvanians," Rapp said.

EMERGENCY RADIOS GO LIVE

Promptly at 8 a.m. on a Wednesday morning in August, Commissioner Ben Kafferlin made an announcement three years in the making.

"Warren County is pleased to announce, effective immediately, all Warren County agencies are authorized and mandated to use the P25 StarNet system."

StarNet stands for Statewide Radio Network. The initiative was intended to replace "multiple, incompatible radio systems."

In Warren County, all emergency responders will now use the same radio equipment on the same system.

About 400 Motorola APX 4000 portable radios are in the hands of county responders.

"This day has been a long time coming," he said. "Five minutes ago, we made history in Warren County and Pennsylvania. That is not hyperbole. We are the first county to fully partner with the Commonwealth for emergency radio communications, saving the taxpayers millions and providing our responders with the best system in the state with full interoperability."

"Five minutes ago, fire/EMS/law enforcement and state agencies can talk to each other," he said. "Five minutes ago, all our agencies have excellent coverage.

SHERIFF KLAMAP RETIRING

Warren County Sheriff Ken Klakamp is retiring after over 43 years of continuous law enforcement service in Warren County.

His first day working for the county was June 15, 1977 -- it's been over 43 years of continuous service in Warren County.

"To the citizens of Warren County, it's been an honor and privilege to have served them for 43 and a half years," he said.

Brian Zeybel is set to become Warren County's next sheriff.

"The community shoes I have to fill are enormous," he said.

Zeybel comes to the post with decades of experience in law enforcement.

He spent most of his career with the Pennsylvania State Police in criminal investigations, polygraph examination and interrogation, rising to the rank of corporal before retirement.

After six months off, Zeybel was sworn in as the chief county detective, a role he has held for the last two years.

TAX INCREASE IN 2021

Real estate tax rates were raised by one mill and the earned income tax rate was raised .1 percent. $175,000 of the funds generated were allocated back to city paving. The funds had originally been set for improvements at Crescent Park but that project was kicked from the budget entirely.

Councilman John Wortman said he understood the efforts by his colleagues "to try to fund services" but said he thinks that "we are severely failing our citizens that are struggling right now.

"I never thought I'd live to see the day in the United States of America where the government can tell you where you can't go to work... but we can take more money from you in taxes. It's unconscionable."

"I would point out that we have heard presentations from the Department of Public Works that they could spend $1 million on paving (annually) and not keep up with what the needs are," Councilman Gregory Fraser said. "Maybe that's speculative. We certainly could spend far more than we currently do on an annual basis."

"Yes, it may not be the best time but there's never a good time, never a good time to ask the public to pay for what it's getting," he continued. "But that's the price of civilization. I don't think we can back away from the hard decisions. We have a city to maintain and a modest tax increase will help do that. (It) won't answer all our problems but it will help."

Starting at /week.