(10/2022) The Pennsylvania General Election is just around the corner on Tuesday, November 8th. Here is a reminder of some important General Election dates. The last day to register to vote or make any changes to your current registration before the November election is October 24th. The last day to apply for a mail-in or civilian absentee ballot is November 1st. Mail-in and absentee ballots must be received by 8 p.m. by the County Board of Elections on November 8th (Election Day). Mailing the ballot on election day, and if the ballot is received after election day, will void your vote and your voice will not be heard!

Broadband is an extremely critical linchpin for economic, education and quality of life. The State of Pennsylvania has formed The Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (PBDA), created under Act 96 of 2021, recently submitted an initial draft plan to the federal government to access $5 million in planning funds from the $100 million Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program funding each state is guaranteed. Additionally, the Authority has developed four subcommittees – data and mapping, technical, workforce and supply chain and outreach and education – to allow for stakeholders to provide input and expertise to the Authority in development of the broader state plan, which is required to apply for the state’s share of the $42 billion national pot. The County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP) has been appointed a seat on the data and mapping subcommittee and will also have opportunities to provide input and feedback to other committees.

At its August meeting, the CCAP Board approved the creation of a CCAP Broadband Task Force to help direct specific county requests as part of the statewide broadband planning process, as well as provide a timely and effective feedback loop to assure CCAP can fully represent Pennsylvania counties as critical stakeholders. The task force will be chaired by Clearfield County Commissioner Dave Glass and members who represent county commissioners and council members, chief clerks, solicitors, GIS professionals, planning directors and IT professionals. I sit on the CCAP Board of Directors representing Adams County and 9 counties to our west and north. The CCAP Board of Directors recently appointed Commissioner Marty Qually to the CCAP Broadband Task Force. With my CCAP board membership, and Qually’s appointment to the Task Force, Adams County should be in a good position to gain knowledge and results as these opportunities unfold.

Have you given any thought to our population trend, whether it is growing, shrinking, or staying the same? The Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) released its August 2022 report on Pennsylvania county income patterns, which uses recent demographic and income trends at the county level to analyze per capita income trends across the Commonwealth. Overall, the IFO reported an average population decrease of 0.03% per year from 2017 through 2020, ranging from the highest increase of 0.87% (Cumberland County) to the lowest decrease of 2.07% (Cameron County), with population generally declining in the north, central and southwestern parts of the State compared to population growth in the south and southeastern parts of the State. From 2017 through 2020, 59 counties showed personal income gains of 1.4% per year, exceeding inflation and implying real income gains. My guess is that 2022 is blowing up that trend? Statewide, personal income growth ranged from a 0.8% decrease (Cameron County) to a 4.6% increase (Forest County).

The Adams County Information Technology Department has been awarded the 2022 County Commissioner Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP) Technology and Innovation Award. This is the first year for the award. Recipients of the award are those who have made significant contributions to advance technology and cybersecurity initiatives within the County that improved internal or external services and solutions. The award was presented to Adams County on the evening of Tuesday, August 9th, at the Lancaster Marriott during the CCAP Annual awards dinner. IT is front and center in our daily lives, especially when providing and storing a mass of critical information. Congratulations and job well down to Adams County IT!

Speaking of information storage, in order to reduce storage space, improve customer service and enhance information retrieval, Adams County row offices are in the process of increasing the digitizing of county records. Kelly Lawver, Clerk of Court, recently reported that despite a requirement of physical maintenance of some court records, her office has made huge strides digitizing office records, including eliminating the need for 19,951 paper case files. As the IT evolution marches forward, the Clerk of Courts has consistently been a proponent and innovator for utilizing IT to improve both process and service. Congratulations to the Clerk of Courts Office for achieving this milestone!

If you live in southern Adams County near the Maryland line, you may be familiar with the historic Rhodes Mill Bridge. Adams County received an award at the CCAP Summer Conference for rehabilitation of the Rhodes Mill Bridge over Middle Creek, on Shorbs Mill Road, off Old Rt. 15. A panel of judges representing the Pennsylvania Highway Information Association & PennDOT selected this project as the winner of the Pennsylvania 2022 Road & Bridge Safety Improvement Plan. The bridge is a complete and beautiful example of a small polygonal Warren pony truss bridge. It was built in 1905 and is 84’ in length by 13’ wide with stone sidewalls. This is one of many county-owned historic and beautiful bridges that we are very proud of.

All three commissioners and two former county commissioners, plus past and present Conservation District representatives attended the Adams County Conservation District 75TH Anniversary at the Adams County Agricultural Complex on Thursday, July 28. The program included a picnic dinner with recognitions presented to the Conservation District from county and state officials. Conservation District Manager Adam McClain provided a history of the Adams County Conservation District from its inception in 1947, to the construction of the Ag Center in 2000, to present day. Given Adams County’s agrarian heritage, and the significance of agriculture’s economic impact, the Adams County Conservation District plays a vital role in providing service to the ag community as well as all residents whether it be a home gardener or a 500-acre farm. As the ag industry continually evolves, the Adams County Conservation District must and will continue to evolve to meet the needs of our community.

With Fairfield’s Pippinfest in our rear-view mirror, and two weekends of Apple Harvest Festival just around the corner, they highlight a variety of pleasurable Fall activities. Fall is a beautiful season in Adams County, no matter what you do, get out there and experience all the historic, recreational, agricultural, natural and cultural opportunities that beautiful Adams County has to offer!