(11/2019) The 2019 General Election in Pennsylvania is Tuesday, November 5. The ballot includes state judicial offices, county offices, municipal officials and school board members. Thus, the majority of offices on the ballot make up a large portion of your local government. Although Presidential Elections result in an historically much larger turnout, local government has a tremendous impact on our day to day lives. So, I hope you exercised your fundamental right to vote this election and urged your friends and neighbors to do the same.

When you go to the polls in Adams County you will be using new machines for the first time. The state required counties purchase new machines that leave a paper trail and are more secure. The Board of Commissioners felt it was important to use the new machines before next year’s presidential election when the voter turnout can be more than twice a non-presidential election. Although the machines are easy to use by just following the very visible prompts, and eliminate poll workers from tabulating write-in votes, both voters and poll workers can acclimate to the new machines and make any necessary adjustments under less demanding conditions. After this election we can make any tweaks in preparation for next years Presidential Election.

With two recent significant monetary donations, most of the funding for the structures at the Adams County Law Enforcement Firearms Training Range have been obtained. The two structures will hopefully be completed this Fall. The structures include a pavilion with enclosed storage and a memorial flag plaza. The range, which is located beside the 911 Center, has been in use by local law enforcement since late spring. It is dedicated for use by all Adams County law enforcement agencies. The Adams County Law Enforcement Association manages the range, and over the past two years has collected over $190,000 in monetary and in-kind donations from individuals and organizations to build the range and make it active. The County of Adams made the land available.

The final phase of fundraising includes firing lane leveling and building the pavilion and memorial flag plaza. Donations of any amount are still being accepted. A donation of $300 or more receives a named brick in the memorial flag plaza wall up to the brick engraving cut-off date. Donations may be sent to ACLEA, 1935 Mummasburg Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325. Thank you to those that have made this long over-due facility possible.

Farmland Preservation is an integral part of supporting not only our Adams County Agricultural industry, but the Tourism industry as well. Tens of thousands of people flock to Apple Harvest not only for the food and fun, but to enjoy the beauty of Adams County. When a landowner agrees to preserve their land, they are agreeing to restrictions regarding the use of their land. One of those restrictions is the ability to subdivide. In 2008 Adams County Planning began discussions with an Adams County landowner whose daughter wanted to replace an existing house trailer with a permanent home for her new family. Until recently, the Deed of Easement restricted subdivision for building lots to one 2-acre lot for the purpose of building one additional residence, as permitted by law. In this family’s case, they wanted to replace an existing structure which already had the infrastructure in place and thus saving money.

Successful farm operations take a village, and most times that village is the family itself. The realization that a program, which was created to preserve and protect not only the land but also the business of agriculture, was restricting family members from living and working on the farm and was disheartening. After searching for alternatives for this family, and realizing how this would affect other preserved farms in the future, Adams County Rural Resources began the legislative process to permit the subdivision of an existing residence. This proved to be a difficult feat. In 2013 they were finally able to get HB 83 introduced, which unfortunately did not get the traction needed. It was reintroduced in 2017, and after coming so unbelievable close to passing (literally by 3 days), the Bill was reintroduced once again as HB 370. It has finally passed as Act 33 of 2019! The family has begun the process to subdivide the home site, which will now be owned by them and not the farm operation. A shout out to the Adams County Planning’s Rural Resources division for their commitment and tenacity for making this reality!

I set a personal record by going to the National Apple Harvest Festival all 4 days both weekends. The first weekend, I cooked barbeque chicken both Saturday and Sunday, the second Saturday I took my oldest daughter Kate (who amazingly had never been there) and our 2-year-old granddaughter Aria, and Sunday Kathy and I met some good friends there to catch up over an apple pancake breakfast. The National Apple Harvest Festival certainly presents the best of who we are in Adams County. It also is a great economic engine for Adams County. It seemed there was a nice crowd all four days; but the first Saturday was gorgeous with amazing attendance. It is a credit to the Upper Adams Jaycees, and hundreds of community volunteers, that the festival has grown into one of the 100 top events in America. Oakside Park stands as a legacy to the festival and community volunteerism!

It has been an honor and a privilege for Commissioner Martin and I to serve the residents of Adams County for the past 8 years. If re-elected, we pledge to be as committed, civil and consistent in our leadership, to promote and sustain our quality of life in Adams County.

Remember, not 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!