SEDA-COG – Page 29 – SEDA Council of Governments

Lewisburg Borough recognizes Flood Safety Awareness Week

Posted on March 16, 2021 by DNS Admin

In recognition of Pennsylvania’s Flood Safety Awareness Week starting on March 22, Lewisburg Borough and SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) are raising awareness of the dangers of flooding and the resources available to help borough residents prepare.

Lewisburg Borough Manager William Lowthert said it is crucial to know what to do before, during, and after a flood.

“Flooding is a natural disaster that we can prepare for in advance. It can be easy to avoid thinking about a flood until it happens, but there are simple ways to prepare for floods that work. We encourage residents to be proactive to help preserve their lives and properties,” Lowthert said.

In high-risk areas, there is a one-in-four chance of experiencing a flood over the life of a 30-year mortgage and residents should consider purchasing flood insurance.

Safety tips to prepare for flooding include making a plan, building a go kit of supplies, knowing the types of flood risk in the borough (both river and stream flooding), signing up for emergency alerts, practicing evacuation routes and shelter plans, buying flood insurance, keeping important documents in a waterproof container, and proactively protecting property. More information about flood safety and preparedness can be found at www.ready.gov/flood.

SEDA-COG will publicize more safety tips the week of March 22 on its social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

The borough contracts with SEDA-COG to provide professional and administrative services for the Community Rating System (CRS), which gives its residents a 10% flood insurance premium discount for all properties in the Special Flood Hazard Area, and a 5% discount for all other properties. If residents’ properties are not mapped as that area, they still may qualify for a lower-cost preferred risk policy.

For more information about flood hazards, flood protection, or for a site inspection, residents may contact Lewisburg Borough at 570-523-3614 or office@lewisburgborough.org or SEDA-COG’s Flood Resiliency Program at 570-524-4491 ext. 7218.

Pennsylvania’s Flood Safety Awareness Week is held the fourth full week in March each year.

SEDA-COG’s Flood Resiliency Program offers services related to flood resiliency and mitigation assistance both within and outside of its 11-county region. Its goal is to help break the damage cycle and stop its drain on people and communities. For more information, visit https://seda-cog.org/departments/flood-resiliency/.

Public Notice – Union County CDBG Budget Modification

Posted on February 5, 2021 by DNS Admin

RUN DATE: February 5, 2021
CONTACT: Rachel Radel, (570) 524-4491 ext. 7236

PUBLIC NOTICE

The Union County Commissioners intend to submit a budget modification for the FFY 2019 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (PA DCED). The Union County Commissioners will hold a public hearing to receive comments on the budget modification on February 18, 2021, at 11:00 AM. Keeping with federal and state guidelines regarding COVID 19, this hearing will take place as a virtual video web and tele conference. The public is invited to observe and participate in the hearing as follows:

To access via web video, type the link: https://meetings.ringcentral.com/j/8383951780. To access via telephone dial +1 (470) 869-2200 and enter Meeting ID: 838 395 1780. The hearing will be recorded. The hearing platform is accessible to persons with disabilities. If accommodations are needed for those with special needs related to language, sight, or hearing, please call (570) 524-4491 at least five days in advance. As an alternative, Union County will accept written comments on the proposed modification until 12:00 PM. on Monday, March 1, 2021. Written comments can be emailed to mgallagherlong@seda-cog.org or mailed to SEDA-COG at 201 Furnace Road, Lewisburg, PA 17837. The Union County Commissioners will then consider the approval of the modification request during their regularly scheduled meeting on March 2, 2021 at 2 PM.

The modified budget is as follows:

FFY 2019
Limestone (Bull) Run Area Flood Resiliency:
Current Budget – $89,707; Modification $(89,707); Modified Budget $0

Emergency Notification:
Current Budget – $0; Modification $89,707 ; Modified Budget $89,707

The Union County Commissioners will accept written public comments on the budget modification until Monday, March 1, 2021 at 12:00 PM. Union County will make every effort to make all programs and activities accessible to the learning, mobility, vision, hearing, and language-impaired persons. Therefore, if you are a person with a disability or limited English proficiency, and require an auxiliary aid, service, or accommodations to participate please contact Rachel Radel at SEDA-COG, 201 Furnace Road, Lewisburg, PA 17837, rradel@seda-cog.org, (570) 524-4491, or 1-800-332-6701, 1-800-654-5984 TTY, 1-800-654-5988 TDD to discuss how Union County can best accommodate your needs. Translators will be available upon request.

Any complaints should be written and submitted to Mitzi Gallagher-Long, at SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG), mgallagherlong@seda-cog.org. Written responses will be addressed within fifteen (15) working days, when practicable.

Übersetzer sind für die öffentliche Sitzung auf Anfrage erhältlich.

Traductores estarán disponibles en las reunions públicas por petición.

January 2021 SEDA COG Board of Directors Meeting

Posted on January 25, 2021 by DNS Admin

Notice is hereby given that the regular meeting of the SEDA COG Board of Directors has been scheduled for Wednesday, January 27, at 1:00 p.m. In keeping with federal and state guidelines regarding COVID-19, this meeting will take place virtually, with the option to join via teleconference.

To attend this public meeting, please click on the following link:

https://meetings.ringcentral.com/j/6124697268 and follow the prompts. To access via telephone, please call +1(470)869-2200 and enter Meeting ID: 612 469 7268. The meeting will be recorded.

High-speed internet expands in Mifflin, Perry counties

Posted on October 21, 2020June 1, 2026 by DNS Admin

Mifflin and Perry counties are expanding high-speed internet access to hundreds of customers, expanding on SEDA-Council of Governments’ (SEDA-COG) broadband project with Juniata County.

Centre WISP will provide high-speed internet to 210 residents and five businesses in the River Road region south of McVeytown in Mifflin County and to 100 residents and three businesses in the Horse Valley Road area in west Perry County. Centre WISP has begun providing service to Juniata County residents and businesses within 8 miles of the Black Log tower near the Village of Honey Grove in Reeds Gap and plans to expand to more of the county by year’s end.

Service will be available to portions of the Mifflin County pilot area by November. Centre WISP expects the remainder of the Mifflin County pilot area, and the Perry county pilot area, to begin receiving service in the next few months.

The counties worked with SEDA-COG to secure state and federal funds to incentivize the internet expansion project and to select Centre WISP.

Mifflin County Commissioner Robert P. Postal gave the background of the county’s involvement.

“Mifflin County has been working on improved internet connectivity since the formation of the Mifflin County Internet Advisory Committee in 2016. Last year, the Committee sponsored, with funds from the Commissioners, a broadband study that identified the River Road neighborhood as a priority for attention,” Postal said. “By partnering with SEDA-COG and the Appalachian Regional Commission, funds to finance broadband development in this area is a great win for the businesses and households.”

Perry County Commissioner Brenda Watson said this is a tremendous boon for the county.

“We understand how vital high-speed internet is, especially with more people than ever working remotely because of the pandemic. We are committed to narrowing the digital divide and enhancing our county’s residents’ and businesses’ competitive edge,” Watson said.

SEDA-COG will provide Centre WISP low-interest revolving loans from a state Keystone Communities Program grant, totaling $95,000 per county served. A U.S. Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant gives $47,000 per county served. Centre WISP will receive a total of $426,000 from the loan and grant funds for servicing the three counties.

The funds incentivized Centre WISP to provide internet service where it wasn’t financially feasible to reach on their own, helping to bridge the last-mile funding gap.

SEDA-COG Assistant Executive Director Mike Fisher thanked Sens. Jake Corman and John DiSanto and Reps. John Hershey, Kerry Benninghoff, Rich Irvin, and Mark Keller for helping to secure the grants. He also recognized the counties and their staff for driving the project.

“We could not have done this three-county broadband project without our legislators and the leadership of our counties,” Fisher said. “We are thrilled that this project is meeting such a crucial need across several counties. We are here to fill the gaps and create public-private partnerships to meet needs that otherwise would not exist.”

Customers can choose from four packages providing speeds up to 40 megabits per second, all with no data caps. Interested customers should visit the website at www.centrewisp.com and pick their county to see pricing and speeds, and to sign up. Centre WISP will not raise their prices for at least two years.

Dave Gibbons, Centre WISP owner, thanked the project partners and explained the impacts of the expansion.

“We are excited to be working alongside SEDA-COG and Mifflin and Perry counties. These public-private partnerships provide much-needed broadband internet access in locations that presently lack the kind of connectivity modern life demands. This funding phase will allow Centre WISP to expand our coverage all the way from Centre County to Perry County, servicing each valley in between. The expansion puts thousands of customers into our service footprint, and we’re looking forward to providing fast and reliable internet access from these new towers.”

SEDA-COG enhances the quality of life and economic advantage for residents and businesses in 11 central Pennsylvania counties through its vital partnerships and initiatives. SEDA-COG also is an advocate for the interests of its communities at the state and federal levels. For more information, visit www.seda-cog.org.