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Accomplishments of the Luzerne County Commissioners
(January 2004 to date)
1. (January 2004) – Restructured Luzerne County Government, from an inefficient system of 52 departments and agencies which answered directly to the Board of Commissioners, to a system of 7 operating divisions with a specific chain of command, and a goal of streamlining reporting and accountability.
2. (January 2004) – Created a County Senior Management Staff through a process that included public advertising, professional screening and collective interviews, bringing the knowledge and expertise of experienced professionals from the private sector to county government.
3. (January 2004) – Instituted quarterly Commissioners Meetings in Southern Luzerne County
4. (February 2004) – Reduced an inherited operating deficit of $23 million (which included 8.5 million in overdue unpaid bills) through debt restructuring, adoption of self-financed health care, and mandating of a health care co-pay
5. (February 2004) – Eliminated past-practice of providing $3,000 severance payments for management personnel
6. (February 2004) – Created the position of a full-time grants administrator, to enhance grant revenue, track and monitor grant revenue receipts, and coordinate more effective grant spending.
7. (February 2004) – Restructured top management at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility, which resulted in improved security measures, staff morale, and control of contraband entering the prison, part of which included an overnight inmate shakedown by officers from the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.
8. (March 2004) – Initiated a study into the long-term corrections facility needs for Luzerne County.
9. (March 2004) – Authorized a budget /staff reduction effort for the Valley Crest Nursing Home, by offering a limited one-time right-sizing incentive to employees
10. (March 2004) – Provided the 2003 annual required contribution of nearly $4.5 million dollars to the Luzerne County Retirement Plan and Trust, the largest county contribution since 1993
11. (April 2004) – Authorized final phase of Community Development funding for the Hazleton Pine Street Project, which revitalized inner city "brownfield" areas into new, single-home housing
12. (April 2004) – Created Luzerne County’s first-ever Administrative Code, which outlines organizational and budget policy, and a purchasing policy, which specifically requires that purchasing be done through issuance of Requests for Proposals
13. (April 2004) – Provided funding for the Drifton Softball Complex, and the Sugarloaf Recreation Complex
14. (April 2004) – Began implementation of a modern financial information system that will facilitate more timely and accurate tracking of revenues and expenditures, and allow for current and concise budget reporting.
15. (April 2004) – Mandated strong cost-cutting measures at the Valley Crest Nursing home, which achieved more than $2 million in savings in 2004.
16. (April 2004) – Authorized use of Community Development funding for the first-ever Small Business Incubation Center in Southern Luzerne County
17. (April 2004) – Worked with the state of Pennsylvania to ensure that over 10,000 acres of watershed and forestland in the region would be preserved through the Theta Lands Conservation Project
18. (June 2004) – Pledged $2.5-million in financial support for Wilkes-Barre’s downtown theatre project.
19. (June 2004) – Developed and implemented Luzerne County’s first-ever Personnel Policy.
20. (July 2004) – Advanced the county’s budget efforts by authorizing a county-wide workforce right-sizing, which saved $3.1 million dollars
21. (August 2004) – Impaneled the Valley Crest Nursing Home Task Force, to study and make recommendations on the future of the aging nursing home.
22. (September 2004) – Worked with the President Judge to use federal reimbursements to eliminate a $1 million contribution from the County’s General Fund toward Juvenile Probation expenses
23. (October 2004) – Created Luzerne County’s first-ever Drug and Alcohol Task Force, with a mission to study the county’s drug and alcohol problems, and present creative alternatives for dealing with them
24. (October 2004) – Initiated development of a centralized Drug Treatment Court, which would provide treatment options for drug offenders, as well as support for the offenders family
25. (November 2004) – Proposed the county’s first-ever Municipal Cooperation Commission, to allow local municipalities to share local and county resources, for a regionalized approach to improving Luzerne County
26. (November 2004) – Joined with state and local economic development groups in providing financial incentives for the BabyAge Company to open a facility in Luzerne County creating 76 new jobs paying family-sustaining wages.
27. (November 2004) – Joined with state and local economic development groups in providing financial incentives for the Chaucer Press to expand its existing facility and create 50 news jobs paying family-sustaining wages.
28. (November 2004) – Requested proposals for a broker to handle the sale of county owned properties, in an effort to reduce the county’s budget deficit
29. (December 2004) – Provided $2.5 million in funding to complete the Wilkes-Barre South Main Street Revitalization Project
30. (December 2004) – Pared an inherited budget deficit of $23 million dollars to just under $17 million.
31. (December 2004) – Took steps toward realization of an annual $500,000.00 savings through negotiation of a long-term lease agreement of the Pennsylvania Child Care Juvenile Facility as part of a broader plan to contain the rising cost of juvenile justice.
32. (December 2004) – Presented a balanced budget for fiscal year 2005 which also contained a 5 mill tax cut for residents, and an additional 1.5 mills which will be dedicated to support the financially struggling Luzerne County Library System with libraries in 10 Luzerne County communities, which serves hundreds of thousands of residents each year.
33. (December 2005) – Presented the County’s first-ever 5 year Financial Management Plan setting forth a blueprint for the next five years of progress toward the achievement of a fiscally stable and vibrant Luzerne County Government that businesses and residents can rely on to provide the foundation upon which economic prosperity and community strength can be achieved.
34. (January 2005) – Partnered with Governor Rendell and the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry in bringing Mission Foods, and over 200 jobs paying family-sustaining wages to the Crestwood Industrial Park.
35. (January 2005) – Held the first-ever Luzerne County Capital Projects meeting, inviting dozens of community representatives for the purpose of creating a consolidated strategy for obtaining state and federal funding for clearly defined projects.
36. (March 2005) – Organized Luzerne County’s first-ever Municipal Cooperation Commission to help Luzerne County municipalities deal with the rising cost of government services.
37. (April 2005) – Established a community-based Electronic Voting Machine Review Committee, to help study and determine the most effective and user-friendly electronic voting machine, as mandated under the Help Americans Vote Act.
38. (April 2005) – Awarded $50,000 in support of development of the White Haven Engine House Restoration and Library Project.
39. (April 2005) – Joined with state and local economic development groups in providing financial incentives for the Cardinal Glass to open a facility in Luzerne County creating 150 new jobs paying family-sustaining wages.
40. (May 2006) – Opened the "M.E.T.S. Classroom in cooperation with the Luzerne County Workforce Investment Office and Luzerne Intermediate Unit 18, an ongoing program that will help students with special needs learn skills required to succeed in the world or retail marketing and merchandising.
41. (May 2005) – Through the Luzerne County Mental Retardation Program and the Luzerne County 911 Center, initiated "S.P.I.N. 911 (Special People In Need)" a program which will provide health and safety information to emergency personnel when responding to calls involving mental retardation/developmental disabilities. S.P.I.N 911 has gone on to be implemented in counties across the Commonwealth.
43. (June 2005) – Awarded $150,000 in support of the Mountain Top Youth Soccer Association 11-field Soccerplex in Wright Township.
44. (June 2005) – Awarded $600,000 to the City of Hazleton to assist site-clearing for its Intermodal Transportation Center.
45. (June 2005) – As the result of changes in management practices at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections awarded the facility a highly-improved compliance rating, from 76 % in 2004, to 88% in 2005.
46. (July 2005) – Through its Office of Community Development, Luzerne County announced a menu of new and innovative economic development programs aimed at helping existing Luzerne County businesses as well as local entrepreneurs to create quality jobs for the County’s workforce.
47. (July 2005) – Through the Bureau of Elections, held the Luzerne County Electronic Voting Machine Expo, allowing residents of Luzerne County to review voting machines from 7 national vendors.
48. (July 2005) – Signed a letter of agreement with Complete HealthCare Resources of Horsham, Pennsylvania, clearing the way for non-county operation of the Valley Crest Nursing Home.
49. (October 2005) – Commissioners Skrepenak and Vonderheid vote to end Luzerne County involvement in the Nursing Home business, saving an estimated $4 million dollars per year for Luzerne County taxpayers.
50. (November 2005) – Through the diligent efforts of workers in the Luzerne County Assessor’s Office, identified more than $19-million in new assessed property values in 2005, resulting in nearly $2-million in actual new revenue.
51. (January 2006) – Formally transferred operation of the Valley Crest Nursing Home to Complete HealthCare Resources, saving Luzerne County taxpayers an estimated minimum of $3 million per year.
52. (January 2006) – Announced the Luzerne County Crime Suppression Initiative, forming a Crime Prevention Task Force aimed at developing means by which Luzerne County may support law enforcers, prosecutors, and the Court System in reducing crime in Luzerne County.
53. (January 2006) – Launched the change of Luzerne County’s 40 year old tax billing system, estimated to save Luzerne County taxpayers $100,000 annually.
54. (March 2006) – Provided $4.8-million in financial assistance to help fund expansion and create 63 new jobs at PennSummit Tubular in the Valmont Industrial Park.
55. (April 2006) – Selected the ESS "Ivotronic" Voting System as the new electronic voting system for Luzerne County under the Help Americans Vote Act, and initiated an aggressive marketing and voter education program to familiarize Luzerne County residents with the new system.
56. (June 2006) – Delayed the ongoing reassessment process underway in Luzerne County, in response to input received in public meetings regarding discrepancies and errors in property data, and until Luzerne County property owners could be better informed about the assessment process, and their right to appeal.
57. (June 2006) – Recognized the area’s growing diversity, and impaneled the Luzerne County Diversity Committee, bringing together a cross-section of community leaders to focus attention on diversity issues in Luzerne County.
58. (June 2006) – Successfully led Luzerne County’s emergency response effort when prolonged rainfall resulted in massive creek and stream flooding in Luzerne County, and raised the Susquehanna River to a level which necessitated the evacuation of over 150,000 Wyoming Valley residents. The flawless emergency response and precautionary evacuation of those residents garnered national and international media attention and praise.
59. (June 2006) – Created Luzerne County’s first=ever Diversity Task Force, bringing together a cross section of commuity leaders to focus attention on diversity issues in Luzerne County.
60. (July 2006) – The Luzerne County Commissioners join Governor Ed Rendell, members of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Legislative Delegation, Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton and members of Wilkes-Barre City Council and R/C Theatres President Wayne Anderson in officially opening the Wilkes-Barre 14 Cineplex, which is part of the Northampton and Main Revitalization Project. Commissioners Greg Skrepenak and Todd Vonderheid authorized the use of $2.5 million in Community Development funding for completion of the project.
61. (August 2006) – Luzerne County Commissioners Gregory A. Skrepenak and todd a. Vonderheid announced participation in a partnership agreement that ensured that the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority remained operator of the Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs Race Track and Casino.
62. (August 2006) – The Luzerne County Commissioners announced a call for proposals for community-based projects requiring capital projects funding.
63. (August 2006) – The Luzerne County Commissioners, joined by State Representative John Yudichak and members of the County’s Municipal Cooperation Commission outlined progress made by the Commission in its first year, including the Wyoming Area Regional and South Valley Regional Police Study Commissions.
64. (September 2006) – Luzerne County Commission Chairman Gregory A. Skrepenak, Luzerne County President Judge Michael Conahan and the Luzerne/Wyoming Counties Drug and Alcohol Program annouce that the United States Department of Justice has awarded Luzerne county $250,000 for establishment of Luzerne County’s Adult Drug Treatment Court.
65. (September 2006) – Luzerne County, it’s Emergency Management Agency and Workforce Investment Office are awarded National Emergency Grant money to help municipalities clean up buildings and properties damaged in the June 2006 Flood Emergency.
66. (September 2006) – The Luzerne County Commissioners and the County’s Election Bureau intitiate a comprehensive Voter Education campaign for new electronic voting systems to be used in the November General Election.
67. (October 2006) – The Luzerne County Commissioners along with Latino-American residents of Luzerne County celebrate the County’s first-ever "Hispanic Heritage Day" at the Luzerne County Courthouse.
68. (October 2006) – The Luzerne County Commissioners, along with the Luzerne County Flood Protection Authority, Luzerne County;s Federal and State Legislative Deligations, the Director of Governor Renedell’s Community Action Team, and the Army Corps of Engineers break ground for the $22.6 million Historic River Common Project in Wilkes-Barre.
69. (October 2006) – Luzerne county Commission Chairman Gregory A. Skrepenak announces that as the result of Luzerne County’s 2-year financial turnaround, Financial Security Assurance has agreed to insure Luzerne County for up to $110 million of debt restructuring.
70. (December 2006) – Construction begins on Phase One of the Historic River Common Project at Wilkes-Barre.
71. (December 2006) – The Luzerne County Commissioner pledge $100,000. to Junior Achievement of Northeastern Pennsylvania for its Enterprise Village Business Center which will train future entrepreneurs and business leaders.
72. (December 2006) – The Luzerne County Commissioners present Luzerne County’s quarterly allocation to the Luzerne County Library System.
73. (January 2007) – The Luzerne County Commissioners announce 2007 capital grant awards which will help organizations and initiatives all across Luzerne County, Including West Hazleton Little League, the Osterhout Free Library, Back Mountain Youth Football and Cheerleading, Back Mountain Recreation, Inc., Franklin Township, The Lands at Hillside Farms in care of the Luzerne County Historical Society, Dallas Borough/Back Mountain Arts Association, The F.M. Kirby Center, the City of Wilkes-Barre Housing Initiative, Duryea Borough, Wright Township, Borough of Plymouth/Luzerne County Redevelopment Authority, CitiVest and King’s College North Main Street Project, the Wilkes-Barre Intermodal Project and the Luzerne County SPCA.
74. (January 2007) – The Luzerne County Commissioners present a check for $250,000. to support the Back Mountain Arts Association.
75. (January 2007) – Luzerne County Board of Commissioners Chairman Gregory A. Skrepenak and Commissioner Todd A. Vonderheid take part in the announcement of plans to develop a cargo airport in Lower Luzerne County, with the potential to create 4,500 jobs and bring $17.1 billion dollars in investments into the region.
76. (February 2007) – The Luzerne County Commissioners take part in the groundbreaking for a new Quaker sales and distribution warehouse in the Crestwood Industrial Park, for which they have provided financial incentives and support.
77. (February 2007) – The Luzerne County Commissioners announce the designation of Main Streets in Edwardsville and Kingston as the recipient of a Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area Grant through the Luzerne County Office of Community Development, and join Edwardsville Borough officials for a walking tour of the downtown area which will benefit from the revitalization grant.
78. (February 2007) – The Luzerne County Commissioners host the first-ever Student Government Day, treating students from schools all across Luzerne County to an inside look at how county government functions, in hopes of inspiring community service in these future leaders.
79. (March 2007) – Commissioner Gregory A. Skrepenak, in cooperation with the Luzerne County Drug and Alcohol Task Force, presents the first-ever "Journey to Addiction" program for 175 at-risk young people from Luzerne County, giving students a reality tour of the places and experiences that drug and alcohol users encounter as as they lead their lives. The program includes visits to the Luzerne County Correctional Facility, a drug and alcohol treatment center, and the county morgue.
80. (April 2007) – Commissioner Gregory A. Skrepenak joins administrators and trustees of Luzerne County Community College along with regional law enforcers, to break ground for the college’s Public Safety Institute, a comprehensive center which will train firefighters, law enforcement, security personnel emergency management responders, public health workers, medical personnel and all public safety personnel.
81. (April 2007) – The Pennsylvania Chapter of the Assocation of Public Safety Communicators presents its President’s Award to the Luzerne County 911 Center for it’s diligent performance during the Valentine’s Day 2007 snow storm.
82. (April 2007) – Luzerne County, in partnership with the City of Wilkes-Barre, are recipients of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry’s Community Progress Award in recognition of their cooperative efforts in a number of initiaitves and programs that have benefitted the entire Greater Wilkes-Barre Community.
83. (April 2007) – Commission Chairman Gregory A. Skrepenak announces the creation of the Luzerne County Institute of Drug and Other Drug Studies which will provide comprehensive training to those in the human services field who treat addiction, and well as family members of those suffering with the disease of substance abuse.
84. (May 2007) – Commission Chairman Gregory A. Skrepenak, along with Luzerne County’s Department of Public Safety as well as school municipal and law enforcement officials from all across Luzerne County, annouce the county’s Safe Schools Initiative, a comprehensive communications network aimed at keeping children safe in educational environments.
85. (May 2007) - Commission Chairman Gregory A. Skrepenak along with Luzerne County President Judge Mark A. Ciavarella open the third annual Juvenile Probation Youth Symposium, a day-long event held at Luzerne County Community College which provided seminars on skills to help young people improve the quality of their own lives.
86. (May 2007) – Commission Chairman Gregory A. Skrepenak joins Luzerne County Judge Michael Conahan and District Attorney David Lupas for the first ever graduation from Luzerne County Drug Treatment Court, an initiative which provides a supportive, holistic approach to help offenders defeat substance addictions.
87. (June 2007) – Luzerne County celebrates the grand opening of the first 1.8 miles of the Luzerne County National Recreation Trail, which links Jenkins Township and Pittston City along the Susquehanna River.
88. (June 2007) – Luzerne County in partnership with Luzerne County Community College offers its first ever week-long symposium as part of the School of Alcohol and other Drug Studies.
89. (June 2007) – Commissioner Rose S. Tucker takes the Oath of Office, replacing former Commissioner Todd A. Vonderheid, who resigned the office to take a position in economic development.
90. (June 2007) - Commission Chairman Gregory A. Skrepenak and Commissioner Rose S. Tucker join administrators from the Luzerne County Division of Human Services and regional service providers to announce the implementation of the Luzerne County Integrated Family Resource Team, a comprehensive effort to meet the needs of Luzerne County’s children and their families who face multi-faceted issues within the human services area.
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