EXPRESS FILE PHOTO Woolrich Park’s welcome sign leads to the Woolrich Little League ball fields in this Express file photo.
WOOLRICH – The Clinton County Board of Commissioners will take steps to solidify its partnership with Pine Creek Township regarding ownership of Woolrich Park.
The commissioners were approached earlier this year by Woolrich Incorporated about purchasing the park — which features a playground and ball fields — as the company continued liquidating its assets.
Commissioners Jeff Snyder and Angela Harding began talks with Pine Creek Township’s board of supervisors to create a partnership to ensure the park remained open to the public.
Harding gave an update on the upcoming steps to make this a reality during the board’s work session Monday morning.
“On Thursday, we signed the official agreement with Woolrich Incorporated to briefly take ownership of Woolrich Park,” Harding said.
Harding said the county will assume ownership of following a vote during Thursday’s voting session.
“Then the solicitors for both Pine Creek Township and the county will get busy working on an agreement for us to turn it over to Pine Creek Township,” she said.
Pine Creek Township currently has the manpower and resources to maintain the park, she continued.
“And the benefactors of Woolrich have been so kind as to donate all of the necessary equipment that’s there to take care of it now,” Harding continued. “So we’re ready to start moving through with the official agreement.”
Other business that will be considered during Thursday’s voting session includes:
— Considering the replacement of back up batteries in the Piper Building through United Power and Supply. According to Network/Security Engineer Ernie Jackson, the batteries are used to keep power running in the event of an outage until the back up generators can kick on. “They have a usefulness of about five years. We had budgeted $5,700 and the prices came in at $4,700 with $450 in shipping costs. So even at that, we’re under our budgeted number,” Jackson said. He added that United will take the old batteries and recycle them.
– Considering approval of the Act 88 Election funding. County Voter Registrar Maria Boileau said no changes have been made since the previous discussion. The funding, estimated at $412,000, will be put toward the 2022-2023 election.
— Board Chairman Miles Kessinger said the county is working with its engineer, the EADS Group, for consulting services for HVAC systems in the Piper Building and Clinton County Courthouse. “Both of them are coming to the end of their lifespan,” he said. “Right now we’re looking at replacing the AC systems in the courthouse and Piper Building. That will be coming up shortly with an agreement with EADS.”
– The final CDBG work session will be held at 9:30 am Thursday. County Grants Coordinator Kari Kepler said six applicants will be considered by the commissioners during the work session. The board will then give final approval for an application for the funding. The county is looking at receiving about $238,000.
The board’s voting session will take place on Thursday, Aug. 25 at 10 am in the second floor meeting room of the Piper Building. The meeting is also streamed live on the county’s Facebook page.
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