Luzerne County receives 24 applications seeking natural-gas funding

Luzerne County Council’s Act 13 Committee received 24 applications seeking county Marcellus Shale natural-gas funding for recreation and conservation projects, including parks and trails, said Committee Chairwoman Patty Krushnowski.

“We were pleasantly surprised we got that many,” she said.

The county has received funding from natural gas drilling annually since the state authorized such allocations under Act 13 in 2012. Because excess funds have accrued, the Act 13 Committee recommended reviving outside awards, which have not been made since 2018.

The council agreed to earmark a total of $240,000 to municipalities and nonprofits. The application deadline was Aug. 28.

The committee, which includes Steve Coslett and Harry Haas, wants ready-to-go projects that can be completed in full for $40,000 or less, with preference to those that did not already receive government funding assistance. Krushnowski said some are seeking less, which means more may end up receiving awards.

Committee members are performing initial screening of the applications and will hold a public meeting soon to discuss the status, including ranking, Krushnowski said.

Hirings

Fourteen county government employees were hired in July, and two past workers returned to county employment, according to the newly released personnel report.

The new workers, their positions and hourly compensation, it said: Marcos Ballard, Redell Blackwell, Bradley Gallipani, Mandi Jo Tencza, and Jarret Townsend, prison corrections officers, $19.05; Kaelee Comitz, treatment court program aide, $17.58; James Conmy, District Attorney’s Office child abuse detective, $35.90; Diana Delgado, Children, Youth and Families (CYF) caseworker 2, $26.54; Heath Middaugh, road and bridge equipment operator, $19.71; Frank Mudlock, part-time airport police officer, $25; Jessie Porter, Kelly Roberts, and Samantha Warren, CYF caseworker 1s, $22.56; and Kayla Strach, election bureau administrative assistant, $17.32.

The prior workers rehired: Edward Garcia Medina, CYF caseworker 2, $26.54; and Deneceio Herbert, Area Agency on Aging care manager 3, $26.54.

Transfers

Three workers changed positions through the internal merit hiring process, the report said.

The employees, their new positions, and hourly compensation: David Buchinski, prison records sergeant, $37.41; Kelly Whitko, coroner executive administrative assistant, $17.32; and Raechel Murray, CYF administrative officer 1, $21.28.

Departures

Five county workers retired in July, according to the report: Claudia Fisher, adult probation deputy chief; Catherine Hilsher, community development executive director; Mary Pavlik, prothontary administrative assistant; Karen Strellish, purchasing administrative assistant; and Daniel Zola, deputy district attorney-narcotics.

Nine employees resigned in July, it said: Matthew Carroll, treasurer’s office accountant; Damon Knouse, prison corrections officer; Paula Magali Ferrer, DA’s administrative assistant; Alexis Spagnola, magisterial district court clerk 5; Sarah Suchocki, Public Defenders Office caseworker 1; Sarah Zawatski, probation services case manager; Samantha Culver, Mental Health/Developmental Services program specialist 2; Ryder Milia, CYF clerk typist 3; and Lindsay Roper, magisterial district court clerk 5.

The report listed three terminations of magisterial district court clerk 5 Jennifer Barrett, domestic relations intake specialist Lucrecia Rodriguez, and CYF caseworker 1 Shafiq Yasuw Alvarado.

Council meeting

The council will hold a voting meeting and work session starting at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the county courthouse on River Street in Wilkes-Barre.

A link for the remote attendance option will be posted in the council’s online meeting section at luzernecounty.org.

Sept. 11 ceremony

The public is invited to a ceremony in remembrance of the 9/11 terrorist attack at 8:30 a.m. Friday in the county courthouse rotunda.

Reach Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or on Twitter @TLJenLearnAndes.