(3/2020) On behalf of
the Adams County Board of Commissioners, I
would like to welcome our new Adams County
Manager Steve Neveda. Steve was most recently
the Assistant County Administrator in
neighboring Franklin County. He has a
background in county administration and
behavioral health. Steve is a native of Adams
County and lives in the Buchanan Valley with
his family. He is very active in the community
and is a valuable addition to the county team.
Steve may be contacted at snevada@adamscounty.us
or at 717-680-3126.
It has been a goal of
the Board to maximize investment income as
part of maintaining Adams County’s strong
financial position. To that end, we have
formed a Financial Team approach that puts
Finance, Treasurer, Controller and the
Commissioner’s office at the table with
regular meetings to discuss financial
operations, practices and strategies.
Treasurer Crissy Redding is reporting that
last year investment interest income totaled
$538,478. In 2018 it was $492,300 and in 2017
$268,200. An improving economy plus seeking
and levering better interest rates have
resulted in this upward trend. A shout out to
our Financial Team for their collaboration and
contributions to our strong financial position
- which directly correlates to the scope and
volume of service we can provide to Adams
County residents.
The goal of providing
a substance recovery center in Adams County
will soon become a reality. The ceremonial
groundbreaking was held on January 21 with a
large number of families, public officials and
health care advocates in attendance. The
center will provide seven residential rooms
for males upstairs and a walk-in center for
the community on the ground level. At the
February 12 Commissioner Meeting, the final
approvals for the Mercy House contractors was
approved and the proceed with construction
directive was also approved. The asbestos
remediation is completed. Residents will soon
see contractors’ vehicles parked in front of
Mercy House with a completion date hopefully
by September. The Board would like to express
our gratitude to our York/Adams Health Joinder,
Adams County staff, Crabtree & Rohrbaugh
Architects, and the many community
organizations and individual donors that made
this project a reality. The Board has begun
very preliminary discussions regarding a
similar residential recovery center for our
female population.
After beginning
fundraising three years ago, the long-awaited
Adams County Law Enforcement Firearms Training
Range, that sits beside the Adams County 911
Center, has become a reality with the
finishing touches now being applied. Although
the range has been in use for nine months,
recently the lanes have been leveled, a
pavilion erected, and the memorable flag plaza
and donor wall is being completed. The lighted
American Flag will majestically fly over the
range 24/7. A special thank you to Maintenance
staff member Brad Weaver for his expertise in
making the memorial flag plaza a special part
of the range. Community organizations,
businesses and individuals donated
approximately $200,000 to support our Adams
County Law Enforcement community to enhance
their safety and the safety of our community.
Thank you and job well done!
As most everyone is
aware by now, there was an attack on the Adams
County Courthouse during the night of December
22, when a Molotov cocktail was tossed through
the Clerk of Courts window from Legion Alley.
Fortunately, the device did not ignite or make
entry into the interior of the building. The
building alarm resulted in quick response by
Gettysburg & Cumberland Twp. PD. After
extensive investigation, as reported in local
media, the individual was identified and taken
into custody in Gettysburg. A number of
related charges including attempted arson have
been filed. The case and the subject have
recently been turned over to Federal
authorities for prosecution due to the nature
of the acts. Thank you to Gettysburg and
Cumberland Township Police Departments for
their quick response to the incident and
Gettysburg PD and Adams County Detectives for
their investigative follow-up.
Preserving our local
history, agrian heritage and beautiful vistas
is an important part of who we are in Adams
County. Last month the commissioners had the
privilege of recognizing two individuals who
have been part of that process for many years.
Tom Clowney and Tim Brown were founding
members of the Adams County Agricultural Land
Preservation Board and have served on the
Board for all 30 years. Besides being iconic
Adams County farmers, they have committed a
large chunk of their adult life to promoting
and facilitating agriculture and agricultural
preservation in Adams County. At the Annual
Re-organization meeting of the Ag Land
Preservation Board, hosted by Rural Resources
Manager Ellen Dayhoff, Commissioners Randy
Phiel & Jim Martin presented 30-year
recognition plaques from the Board to Tom
Clowney & Tim Brown. Tim was not able to
attend to accept his plaque, which will be
presented at later date. Both Tom Clowney and
Tim Brown are gentleman and community servants
who exemplify some of the best attributes of
our community!
Remember those long
lines during the last Presidential election
when 73% of the Adams electorate showed up at
the polls? Although several of the larger
polls like Cumberland, Conewago and Reading
have been re-balanced or split, planning in
Adams County has already begun to plan for the
expected large turn-out in the upcoming April
Presidential Primary. New PA legislation takes
effect for the April 2020 primary that creates
a new option to "Vote By Mail." Voters must
request a ballot at least 50 days before an
election. It can be done on-line or at the
county elections office. Voters can then be
placed on a list to permanently receive a
ballot application by mail. Voting was
previously limited to absentee applications
with certain restrictions. Now anyone can vote
early by mail. Avoid the lines. For more
information on Early Mail In Voting call the
Adams County Elections Office at 717-334-6781.
No matter what you do,
get out there and enjoy and experience all the
historical, recreational, agricultural,
natural and cultural opportunities that
beautiful Adam County has to offer!
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