By SANDRA K. REABUCK
JOHNSTOWN — Cambria County’s three commissioners told business and labor leaders Thursday they have a busy agenda for 2010.
The commissioners said duties will range from refinancing bonds for lower interest rate to bolstering use at senior centers and beginning an in-house performance evaluation on strengths and concerns in county government.
President Commissioner P. J. Stevens and commissioners Milan Gjurich and Sam Valenty delivered the annual state of the county report to the Greater Johnstown/Cambria County Chamber of Commerce. Approximately 200 people attended the breakfast event at Sunnehanna County Club.
Stevens, recalling that he and Gjurich have been in office for six years, said, “We’ve met our fiscal obligations. Our budgets have been in the black.”
Valenty, a Northern Cambria businessman who was appointed in February to fill a vacancy, said one of the top goals will be the refinancing of the county’s debt service.
In 2010, Cambria will pay $6.1 million in debt services payments, Mike Gelles, the chief clerk and county finance director, said after the meeting. The interest rates range from 4.356 to 5 percent, he said.
One mill of tax produces about $1.1 million in tax revenue, he said.
The commissioners recently contracted with Nutrition Inc. to take over management of the county’s nine senior centers, Stevens said. Pointing to low use by the “60-plus generation,” the president commissioner said, “We want to invigorate the centers to meet their needs.”
Gjurich said that performance measurements will be developed this year, with all departments being asked to do their own evaluation in May. When the evaluations are completed, strengths and areas of concern will be identified. In 2011, results will be be made public, with committees created for feedback, he said.
The goal, he said, is to determine “what we are getting for our money.”
Stevens also said that the county, as well as local businesses and leaders, are facing a challenge in promoting and marketing the region following the death of longtime U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha in February.
It can be done “with unity, pride and enthusiasm,” Stevens said.
One of the avenues now being pursued is a video that will showcase the county and will be streaming on the county’s Web site by the end of the summer, Stevens said.
Cambria recently entered an agreement with CGI Communications Inc. of Rochester, N.Y., which will produce - at no cost to the county - a video about the county and its resources. The video will be filmed locally, and links will be available for any businesses on the Web site, he said.
