LOCK HAVEN — The Clinton County Board of Commissioners will consider moving ahead with applying for COVID-19 ARPA funds for a new community oriented project this week.

The board heard from Grants Administrator Kari Kepler about the project, which would create a shared work space with internet access for those in need.

Kepler explained the funding would come from the COVID-19 American Rescue Plan Act Capital Fund Multi Purpose Facilities Program.

“What we’re doing is improving the existing Donald Mellot Memorial Building which is located at the Clinton County Department of Emergency Services,” Kepler said.

The building, which was a school prior to housing the department and District Judge Keith Kibler’s Office, was an elementary school.

According to Kepler, the project would refurbish three unused classrooms on its second floor. The improvements would include elevator construction, installation of fiber optic cables, upgrading the phone system and install security doors, improve the 1960s-era classrooms into modern training rooms with full internet access for residents, refurbish a principal’s office into a server room, upgrade restrooms, ensure ADA compliance and install a security system to monitor the rooms.

At a previous board meeting, Kepler told the commissioners the funding, administered by the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority, is to ensure residents have access to the internet.

“Many Pennsylvania’s without affordable access to the internet rely on community anchor institutions to participate in the increasingly digitized society,” Kepler said at the board’s April 4 voting session.

Kepler told the board Monday morning the grant application is due Friday and will be looking for signatures at its voting session Thursday.

The board will also consider entering into four agreements to ensure the transition of the county’s Children and Youth Services department to its new reporting system Child Accounting and Profile System (CAPS).

According to Tristan Rock, CYS assistant director, the transition from its old data system to the new one was made by necessity.

In November 2023, Rock and Director Autumn Bower told the board the department was getting closer to implementing the system, noting the staff were preparing to learn the new system.

Rock said the commissioners will be considering a Provider Agreement, Consulting Services Agreement, Adoption and Foster Care Reporter system update and the Child Welfare Information System (CIWIS) maintenance agreement.

It was noted these agreements are set to last 15 months.

“Something important to note is the amounts on Thursday’s agenda are for a 15 month agreement since we need this to be in place prior to the start of the fiscal year,” Rock said. “Moving forward all agreements would be renewed on a typical fiscal year basis, as are all of CYS’s contracts.”

Rock added the costs are reimbursed through the department’s program funds.

She further emphasized the change to the new system will not have an effect on the public.

“There should be no inconvenience to people making child welfare reports,” Rock said. “We have a system in place so, even though the data is converted, there will be no interruptions to us providing assistance to families.”

Board Chair Jim Russo was absent from Monday’s work session, held Monday morning at the Clinton County Government Building, 2 Piper Way, Lock Haven.

The commissioners will hold its voting session at 10 a.m. on Thursday in the second floor meeting room.