(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

With warmer days ahead (allegedly), the Beaver County Commissioners are on the cusp of seeing several new additions to the county officially become a reality.

One of those realities took place over the weekend, as the Maple Syrup & Music Festival returned to Brady’s Run following a multi-year absence. Commissioner Jack Manning praised the “exceptional effort” for all parties involved, including all volunteers and PUSH Beaver County (in their first year running the festival). Parks and Recreation director Tony Caltury said that the numbers for attendance were still not yet finalized due to the last stages of “breakdown mode” from the weekend, but said that he was “pleasantly surprised” by the turnout over the two-day festival.

Two more anticipated happenings in the near future are the opening of the Old Economy Pool and the grand opening of the new Beaver County Men’s Shelter in Vanport. The Old Economy Pool will be opening this summer in conjunction with the Beaver County YMCA, who will be employing lifeguards and other staff to operate the facilities following no operation of the facility in 2022. The Men’s Shelter is tentatively scheduled to open in June of 2023, with a change order request sent to the County Commissioners for approval. County solicitor Garen Fedeles introduced these two resolutions, along with 45 others, as submitted for approval at Thursday’s public meeting.

Additionally, Emergency Management Services director Eric Brewer spoke about the latest updates on the installation of new radio communication devices for the county, with Brewer hoping that the new equipment would be installed before fall. “I’m yelling,” Brewer stated. “I’m jumping up and down every day just to get this done.” Brewer added that he is pressuring to get a deadline date for the operations to be done.

Commissioner Tony Amadio was not in attendance for the April 26 work session.

The next work session is scheduled for May 3 at 10:00 AM.