Latest news with #BrianFochtman
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Somerset County commissioners announce disaster recovery fund plan, make $10K donation
SOMERSET, Pa. (WTAJ) — The Somerset County commissioners will rely on an advisory board and eight flood-damaged communities when deciding how to spend money from a new disaster recovery fund, they said Tuesday. The commissioners voted 3-0 Tuesday to formally create the fund, which was announced Friday and will be overseen by the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies (CFA), according to WTAJ media partners at The Tribune Democrat. The board also pledged $10,000 towards the cause, matching an identical donation made by the CFA. The CFA will oversee the fund as it grows and gather grant applications from municipalities and local nonprofits within the eight Somerset County communities that have issued disaster declarations in the week since the May 13 floods. The counties include Garrett, Meyersdale, Rockwood and Salisbury boroughs as well as Elk Lick, Greenville, Larimer and Summit townships. Much of the damage was reported to occur in the area surrounding the Casselman River and several tributaries, including the bridges and low-lying neighborhoods along the corridor. Commissioners Brian Fochtman, Irv Kimmel Jr. and Tokar-Ickes noted that there are ongoing reviews already in place to see what state aid might also be available to help residents and businesses recover from the storm. The county's disaster relief fund is meant to help cover any 'gaps' that might exist after state aid is approved, Tokar-Ickes added. As time goes on, the county's funding needs will likely become clearer. A disaster recovery fund committee of six Somerset County residents will review the funding requests submitted by municipal leaders and issue grant awards accordingly. Kimmel noted that the board lacks any elected officials as they are looking to take 'the politics out of it.' Somerset County officials said their $10,000 pledge is being drawn from the county's hotel tax and Act 13 natural gas revenues, more importantly, not from county tax dollars. Commissioners defended the move after one resident raised questions about the donation while listening to the meeting. Commissioners added that Tuesday's approval will lay the groundwork for a long-term fund that won't only support southern Somerset County's long-term recovery, but will also help address future, unforeseen disasters in the county. Additionally, the county's contracted grant writer, Aspire Grant Solutions, noted it will support the eight communities that issued disaster declarations by donating 30 hours each to help them apply for funds to help solve their unique issues. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Foundation to oversee county flood aid drive; Somerset Rotary gives $1,000 to Salvation Army
SOMERSET, Pa. – The Community Foundation for the Alleghenies will manage donations for a Somerset County Disaster Recovery Fund that is being launched in response to devastating flooding in the southern part of Somerset County. 'As the cleanup and recovery process gets into its next phase, this fund will provide needed financial support to local organizations assisting our friends and neighbors impacted by the flooding with unmet needs and provide a place to donate for all who have asked us how they can help,' Somerset County President Commissioner Brian Fochtman said. The county and eight communities issued disaster declarations after southern Somerset County was flooded, and Fochtman said earlier this week they were exploring ways to help. The nonprofit CFA has worked for years collecting donations and managing funds for community efforts and local entities. The fund is now accepting donations, which will be disbursed immediately to nonprofits assisting Somerset County residents with flooding response and recovery, the foundation said in a media release. The Johnstown-based nonprofit simultaneously announced it was committing a $10,000 grant as the first donation to get the fund started. To oversee the distribution of these grant funds, the Somerset County commissioners are working with the Somerset County Emergency Management Agency to organize an advisory committee, which will include social service, faith-based, and emergency response communities, the release added. 'The Community Foundation is uniquely equipped to promptly address immediate or urgent needs that unexpectedly arise across our region,' said CFA Executive Director Angie Berzonski. 'The Somerset County Disaster Recovery Fund will provide essential resources for nonprofits, facilitating both the early response and the ongoing recovery efforts within the county.' A link will be available to allow people to donate online through To donate by check, make checks payable to the Somerset County Disaster Recovery Fund, and mail them to 216 Franklin St., Suite 400, Johnstown, Pa. 15901. Somerset County Solicitor Benjamin Carroll said the commissioners will have a fund management agreement with the foundation on Tuesday's meeting agenda. Following the current flooding recovery, the fund can remain open in support of future natural disasters and other crisis situations in Somerset County, Berzonski said. Rotarians lend support The Somerset Rotary Club donated $1,000 Friday to the Salvation Army for flood relief. The donation began by passing the club's 'magic box,' which at first raised $185. Members voted for the club to match individual contributions. By the end of the meeting, members gave $500, which the club matched. 'This is what I like about the Somerset Rotary Club,' said Harold Shaulis, president. 'When there's a need, they're quick to address it.' G. Henry Cook told the club that the Somerset Fire Department had loaned a fire truck to Meyersdale, whose vehicles suffered flood damage. Others told of heroic assistance by fire companies and other responders. Some Rotarians and relatives had suffered flood damage. Gale Purbaugh, Salvation Army service unit director, told of relief activities by the unit and commended the Rotary Club for its generosity.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Somerset Commissioners: How to provide a safety net and simultaneously save money
When Somerset County Commissioner Brian Fochtman asked those watching the hearing remotely Tuesday evening if there was any public comment, the response: Loud barking from one the viewer's dogs during the treasurer's report. Laughter and comments like "the meeting went to the dogs" soon followed. The commissioners' evening meeting – the first this year – drew three community members. They did not comment when given the time to do so. The meeting held in the commissioners' board room at the Somerset County Building in Somerset Borough went quickly, about 10 minutes. Normally held during the day in the Somerset County Building twice a month, the commissioners planned four meetings this year to be held in the evening throughout the county to accommodate the residents who want to attend but cannot because of the daytime hours and the location. This practice began last year. The commissioners passed a resolution a few years ago to make their public meetings accessible by providing coverage with electronic technology. At every meeting, remote attendance is available to residents as a reasonable accommodation; thus, the dog's loud input. As with all their meetings, Tuesday night, the commissioners covered a variety of topics such as loan agreements, contracts and appointments, as well as personnel matters that included employee hirings, reassignments and acception of resignations. Two approved contracts stood out, both saving the county funds. The first was a debt service that is reducing steadily every year. The commissioners approved the Cambria Somerset Authority Debt Service Payment for 2025 in the amount of $100,000 for the bond and loan payments. This is a debt obligation that has continually gone down since its inception when the county's share was about $350,000. And it will continue to be reduced annually, according to Commissioner Pamela Tokar-Ickes. More: Somerset commissioners approve contract with computer security program The second agreement involved the Emergency Management System and a radio security agreement with several other counties, accepting two new counties into the ICORRS. The Inter County Regional Radio System (ICORRS) is a trunked radio system located in about a dozen counties that centrally manages a pool of channels, switching users to available channels to enable efficient communication among a large number of users without interference. The millions-dollar agreement between Motorola Solutions and the county to run until 2033 involves county-owned equipment and the ICORRS master site. Say there is an emergency in a county, but the radio channel that normally would be used isn't functioning. Under this agreement, the emergency crew can switch to another channel functioning in a neighboring county that is part of this cyber security agreement. The master site would switch immediately to that workable channel in one of the other regional counties. By several counties signing on to this cyber security agreement, the cost is reduced. The contract between ICORRS and the counties is for about $6.4 million over eight years, according to the commissioners. The counties pay their portion every year and are reimbursed by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) for that cost. The amount each county pays for the program is divided up among the counties. Thus, adding two counties to the multi-county regional agreement reduces that annual cost, creates an even stronger safety net for citizens of each of those counties and saves overall funds coming out of the counties' general fund, albeit being reinbursed later by PEMA, explained Commissioner Irv Kimmel Jr. Tuesday, the commissioners also voted to approve the acceptance of Allegheny and Washington counties into the ICORRS. "We are using it every day," Tokar-Ickes said. Part of the payment is "built in, where a portion is distributed in regional grants," she said. This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Somerset leaders: How providing a safety net and saving funds can work
