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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-10-11 Commissioner Minutes WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2023 The Franklin County Commissioners met Wednesday, October 11, 2023, with the following members present: David S. Keller, John T. Flannery and Robert G. Ziobrowski. Chairman Keller presided and after calling the meeting to order, a Moment of Silence, and the Pledge of Allegiance, proceeded with the business of the day. The meeting was live streamed. Commissioner Robert G. Ziobrowski motioned to approve the agenda which was seconded by John T. Flannery. Carrie Gray, County Administrator, asked for a modification to the agenda today to exclude the Prison Board items. She explained that the Prison Board met yesterday and the vouchers were approved so there is no need to convene the Prison Board today. The Jail vouchers should be included with the regular vouchers for Board approval. The Commissioners accepted the revision and unanimously approved to adopt the agenda with those modifications. There was no public comment. On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski, seconded by John T. Flannery; unanimously approved all bills presented and ordered paid including the Jail vouchers. The minutes of the October 4, 2023 meeting were reviewed. On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski, seconded by John T. Flannery; unanimously approved the minutes. The Board reviewed Agreements, Contracts and Reports. Commissioner Ziobrowski asked for more information on the Pictometry contract. Carrie Gray explained that she thinks the end date may be incorrect but she will confirm after reviewing the contract. She continued that Kara Shindle, GIS Director, will provide an overview of Pictometry, how we utilize it in the nontax office settings e, imagery and accompanying GIS data that fill a wide variety of uses both internally in the county and externally in the municipalities, school districts, and law enforcement. She continued that we use the imagery in practically everything which includes the following: updating the GIS data; updating, creating and editing data for 911; locating houses for safe dispatching which includes directions to field pers municipal plan corrections, reviews, and submissions as well as building permits that go back to the Tax Office and the Planning Department; and the Conservation District stormwater management duties. She stated that quite honestly they use it for everything every day and she knows that other offices look at it as well. Anytime someone from the public calls into p update parcels when providing that information to the public as well. Commissioner Ziobrowski said when he is out he is constantly hearing from people that we are reassessing the address those Commissioner Ziobrowski asked about the reassessment part of it, he realizes that when we find additions to properties that we then correct assessments but is this part of a reassessment. Ms. Shindle responded that if having a reassessment they would need updated imagery in order to help perform that and in fact several companies who do reassessments do offer significant discounts for having updated imagery but an imagery flight itself does not create a reassessment. Ms. Gray said that Eagleview uses planes to fly over to capture the images, and they plan to flyover in the spring of 2024. So Franklin County residents will see planes flying over when those images are captured but responded 2017 was the last time we had a flyover and prior to that it was 2014 and those were the only two times the County has conducted flyovers and it usually takes a number of weeks to do the flyover. Ms. Shindle said that we have to wait for a time when there are no leaves or snow cover. There has been other imagery created and captured by the State that we also utilize th cameras to capture. Commissioner Flannery said that Google earth has not been updated around here for at least three years that he knows of, will this information be used for that? Kara responded that we are forbidden contractually from sharing with Google but she does know that Google updates sporadically, there are some places that have been updated but they also have their own Continued on page 2 money and fleets. The pictometry data is slightly different because we also get information that is not Google and we will use it to publish our updates to Google. Commissioner Ziobrowski said that one of the cost benefits was the possibility of finding additional improvements to properties that had did it which was largely for assessment which is what he recalls. Kara said a lot about sharing the information and when the board went to Chester County many years ago they had a system where they shared information with their municipalities but there was a cost associated with that. He asked if we are charging any of these entities for the use of data. Kara responded that not currently because we have data sharing agreements with our municipalities, there is a separate contract if they want to utilize the imagery and they get requests quite a bit from the municipalities for updated imagery on a regular basis because it's integral to many of their needs especially with mandates increase our assessments due to Pictometry. Ms. Gray said it looks like the total tax dollars from 2019 through 2023 using the 2017 flyover the annual revenue generated compounded from 2019-2023 it was $914,885. So in 2019 the tax dollar income was $18, compounded every year to get to that total that she gave them. Commissioner Ziobrowski stated that with those kinds of rates it had to accelerate dramatically to get to the $914,000. Ms. Gray responded that it accelerated in 2021 to $180,000, 2022 to $272,000 and 2023 to $372,000. Commissioner Ziobrowski said his recollection is when we have appropriately assessed properties for consistent basis so the income that we are getting from appropriately assessing properties will more than pay for this contract with Eagleview and all though some people resent the fact that their everyone should pay their fair share and properties that have improvements that have never been assessed are paying less than their fair share. Ms. Gray gave a personal example from her family of assessment was reduced once the county found out. Ms. Gray explained the steps with the appeal process where property owners can explain the situation in their case and talk about what happened to necessitate the change. Commissioner Ziobrowski said he is pleased with the program and he knew the answers to some of his questions but he wanted to articulate for the record since this is a large contract and there have been some controversy in the county about our drone system. Chairman Keller said we do continue to pick up some adjustments in the assessment over time as we do these flights on a periodic basis but the initial flights had a significant impact and he knows some school districts commented that they were pleasantly surprised by the additional revenue that it but once they understood that a lot of those improvements have been in place even before they purchased the property and that they were not being assessed or under assessed up until that point most folks were pleased that they had a discount for several years and were happy to pay the increases as long as the money was spent properly. As a result of the first two flights the additional revenue to the county more than paid for the cost of the flights and the related benefits to public rant or trying to find somebody they are looking at the property and identifying all the potential escape routes which has thinks it pales in comparison to the public safety benefits that come with it. Commissioner Flannery said on a personal note he got away with the addition of two decks and a shed for multiple years before he was caught. But when you hear the full story, it does change your percepti that when she had to call 911 for her husband a couple of weeks ago she noticed a difference in the response time between about 20 years ago and now. The response time has decreased with the first flyover being the spring of 2024. They have been negotiating this contract for the better part of a year to get to some of the terms including owning some of the images. They recommend flying again in three years and having access to the software that would allow them to compare the images for another year or so after that so she is going to talk to the Eagleview representatives about the contract ending at least in 2028 or 2029 and ask they approve contingent on that end date. Chairman Keller said kudos to the negotiating team since that cost includes both sets of flyovers. Continued on page 3 it'sbetter quality this time also. Technology has progressed that we are getting more for less than what used to be. Carrie thanked Kara for working with them to extend the ability for us to view our own images month to month at least 4 times. Chairman Keller mentioned that he served on the CCAP Information Technology Committee and GIS is always a topic of conversation and they are always shaking their heads at why counties have to do thes all the state. The state has resumed flights as Ms. Shindle mentioned but the quality is just not there te will continue to do necessity and we need to keep doing it. There were no other questions. The items will be decided upon in the afternoon session. The Board recessed and will reconvene at 2:00 p.m. for final approval of the items that were reviewed. The Board reconvened at 2:00 p.m. There was no public comment. The Board reviewed Department of Emergency Services matters. On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski, seconded by John T. Flannery; unanimously approved the grant agreement between the County of Franklin and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) for the FY2023- 2024 Hazardous Materials Response Fund (HMRF) Grant in the amount of $12,608.00, for a performance period of July 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024. The full term of the grant agreement is July 1, 2023 through October 30, 2024. Funds are to be used to develop, update, exercise and purchase equipment for response to hazardous material releases. The Board reviewed additional Department of Emergency Services matters. On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski, seconded by John T. Flannery; unanimously approved Resolution 2023-17 to authorize the County Administrator to be the authorized signatory for agreements and invoices processed through the Commonwealth's Single Application System and Keystone Login Service (eGrants). This resolution also authorizes the Administrative Officer to create and submit all needed applications on behalf of the Franklin County Department of Emergency Services. The Board reviewed additional Department of Emergency Services matters. On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski, seconded by John T. Flannery; unanimously approved the agreement between the County of Franklin and the Vigilant Hose Company, Emmitsburg, MD to formalize First Responder's access, use and associated responsibilities for third-party web-based remote alerting applications. The Board reviewed additional Department of Emergency Services matters. On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski, seconded by John T. Flannery; unanimously approved the agreement between the County of Franklin and the Waynesboro Volunteer Fire Department to formalize First Responder's access, use and associated responsibilities for third-party web-based remote alerting applications. The Board reviewed GIS matters. On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski, seconded by John T. Flannery; unanimously approved for the Chairman of the Board to execute the agreement between the County of Franklin and Pictometry International Corp. for the purchase of imagery flights and accompanying data at a cost of $444,938.00 for the period of October 11, 2023 through October 10, 2025. Images/data is used by a variety of municipalities, school districts, and LEOs, as well as County departments, including but not limited to 911, DTF, Sheriff's, GIS, and Tax for many daily processes, including assessment and board appeals. These flights allow us to update existing GIS databases, answer questions for the public, provide clear directions for field Emergency Personnel, allow law enforcement (internal and external) to provide situational awareness during field visits, and also allow the Tax Office to perform assessments and provide evidence for board appeals. Continued on page 4 The Board reviewed Grants matters. On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski, seconded by John T. Flannery; unanimously approved the grant application to PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) to request funding from the 2024 Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) Program Grant to allow the Franklin County Jail (FCJ) to expand the number of Sublocade injections that can be provided to participants along with previously established medication options used in Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT). The grant request is for the amount of $266,704.00 for the grant period of January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2025. The Board reviewed Property Management matters. On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski, seconded by John T. Flannery; unanimously approved for the Chairman of the Board to execute the quote from Privacy Glass Solutions to purchase 10 windows with the between the glass privacy blinds for courtroom doors at the New Judicial Center at a cost of $5,892.55. These will replace windows that are inoperable. The Board reviewed additional Property Management matters. On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski, seconded by John T. Flannery; unanimously approved for the Chairman of the Board to execute the proposal from RA Hill, Inc. to provide snow removal services that will include plowing and snow removal at the Courthouse Complex, Administrative Annex, and Franklin Farm Lane on an as needed basis for an estimated cost of $5,000.00 for the period of January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024. In accordance with PA Act notifications, martin and martin, inc. notified the County of a Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection PAG-02 NPDES permit being applied by KLS Investment Properties for preliminary/final land development plan on property located in the Borough of Mercersburg. In accordance with PA Act notifications, Rettew notified the County of a Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection general permit No. 5 (GP-5) being applied by UGI Utilities, Inc. for the Woodstock Road culvert gas main relocation on property located in Greene Township. The meeting was adjourned at 2:13 p.m. with a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski; seconded by John T. Flannery. Carrie E. Gray County Administrator/Chief Clerk FRANKLIN COUNTYCOMMISSIONERS ____________________________________ David S. Keller, Chairman ____________________________________ John T. Flannery ___________________________________ Robert G. Ziobrowski