(5/2019) Beginning in
2012, Emmitsburg News Journal Publisher Mike
Hillman invited the newly seated Adams County
Board of Commissioners to keep residents
informed of Adam County news by submitting a
column to the ENJ. We as a Board accepted that
invitation, never missed a month, and by my
rough calculation with this month's
submissions, we have thus submitted
approximately 89 articles.
Publisher Hillman has
had a unique opportunity and platform to
review our body of work as commissioners over
the past eight years, evaluate our position on
a variety of issues and assess our
accomplishments. He has attended and covered
many of the events we attend. He has gotten to
know each one of us personally.
Thus, it is
with significant pride, that I can report that
Mike Hillman and The Emmitsburg News Journal
has chosen in this issue of the ENJ to endorse
Commissioner Jim Martin and myself for the
contested Republican Primary Election on May
21. Jim and I are both appreciative and
honored that the publisher has enough trust in
our past performance, abilities and
accomplishments, to come out and publically
endorse us for four more years. Support such
as this is earned over time and simply
reinforces our consistent commitment to
continue our enthusiastic and dedicated
service to Adams County residents for four
more years!
My primary allegiance
and responsibility as county commissioner is
to effectively represent the residents of
Adams County. I hopefully have lived up to
that responsibility! As the County
Commissioner Association of Pennsylvania Board
of Directors Region 3 Representative, I have
been selected, for the past six years, by
twenty-nine of my county commissioner
colleagues, in nine other counties to our
west, to represent them on the Board of CCAP.
This is certainly an honor bestowed on me by
my peers; but also provides me with enhanced
knowledge of issues, resources and input to
better serve Adams County. I also serve on the
Adams County Land Conservancy Board of
Directors, the Adams Regional EMS Board of
Directors and the Penn State Mount Alto
Advisory Board.
As the Adams County
Commissioner Board Chairman, I believe the
current Board of Commissioners has much to be
proud of. Looking back over the past eight
years, numerous accomplishments stand out. We
began our tenure with funding and implementing
the sorely needed county-wide 911 digital
emergency radio project to protect our
residents and emergency responders. The
project had been languishing and unfunded for
several years. I am happy to report it has
been deemed extremely successful by our county
emergency responders. We also successfully
re-structured and consolidated several
departments for greater efficiency including
tax services and planning. The new Human
Services Building project proved both fiscally
responsible and operationally effective, by
getting the county out of rents and leases and
assuring that departments were together for
improved collaboration and service. This
massive undertaking also resulted in a greatly
improved space for both residents and staff,
with the project enabling the repurposing of a
vacant yearbook plant along with 26 additional
acres for the future use. The benefits of the
Human Services facility will resonate for
decades.
We have an
exceptionally good relationship with our
legislators and other elected officials that
produces results. I am very proud to have
played a role in the long awaited Adams County
Law Enforcement Firearms Training Range beside
the 911 Center becoming a reality. Due to the
formation of a private/public partnership, the
range was built at no expense to county
taxpayers with over $175,000 raised. There is
some more work to be done; but the range is
currently in use for training by Adams County
law enforcement personnel. As a result of
Adams County's health joinder relationship
with York County, we are currently in the
process of leading an initiative to turn the
vacant Mercy House beside St Francis Church
into a community substance counseling center
as well as a residential treatment center for
seven males in recovery. This will soon become
reality as the first such facility in Adams
County. The fiscal health of any governmental
entity is critical and a primary
responsibility of elected officials. I can
proudly report that the state of Adams County
fiscally is in excellent shape because of
overall fiscal conservatism, prudent
budgeting, good investment, and effective
fiscal oversight that has resulted in two bond
increases to AA+ during this Board's tenure.
The economic forecast for Adams County is
cautiously optimistic with residential
building overall picking up; but more
appropriate commercial development is
desirable.
Four years ago when
Commissioner Martin and I ran for our second
term as Adams County Commissioner our campaign
motto was as follows: Experience, Leadership,
Common Sense and Vision. This time we have
added one more very important word to those
four. It is the word Results. Experience,
Leadership, Common Sense & Vision = Results.
We do not need to tell you what we can do,
what we might do and who we are? You already
know. that!
It is distinct
privilege for Jim and I to serve as your Adams
County Commissioners - and we would be honored
by your continued support!
No matter what you do
in Adams County, get out there and experience
all the historical, recreational,
agricultural, natural and cultural
opportunities that beautiful Adams County has
to offer!
Read other articles from Adams County Commissioners