(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)
The first work session for the Beaver County Commissioners during March 2023 came in like a lamb and went out like a lion.
Things started on a relatively positive note with a pair of announcements from Parks and Recreation director Tony Caltury. The surface area of the Dek Hockey rink has been completed, and according to Caltury should be operating “very, very shortly”. He also requested a resolution to finalize the transfer of services and operations of Old Economy Pool to the YMCA. In previous years, the county would pay for the operations and receive commissions.
“The biggest thing is that the pool’s gonna be open,” stated Commissioner Tony Amadio. The other two Commissioners agreed, albeit with a caveat to add an addendum to the future resolution that approval will come pending an inspection and clearance for operation. Commissioner Camp also mentioned to Caltury–for further research–inquiries from citizens wondering if/when Brush Creek Park will have their own pickleball court(s).
Emergency Management Services director Eric Brewer gave the latest updates on the County’s assistance with the East Palestine train derailment, noting that there will be a meeting for first responders in East Palestine on Wednesday night. Brewer mentioned that information regarding the latest updates can be found on the PEMA website.
The majority of the work session became focused on the concerns and complaints of civil engineer Curtis Green III, who felt that his business was denied opportunity by Beaver County to work on projects in different municipalities following grants from the ARPA allotment. “I’d like to try to meet and try to resolve this,” Green said, “but other than that, I was told to go and file a discrimination claim against the county and your departments–especially the departments that get federal funds.”
The board was very defiant to those claims of discrimination by Green, pointing out that the County is following orders from the federal government in regards to how the ARPA money is spent, and that there were no acts of discrimination or bias towards any project that has taken place in the county. Private meetings between the board and Green were established following the conclusion of the work session.
The next work session for the Beaver County Commissioners is scheduled for March 8 at 10:00 AM.