2008 News
September 3, 2008
“Sampling the Joys and Pleasures of Perkasie”
Commissioners Conduct Bi-Monthly Meeting on 176-year-old, Relocated South Perkasie Covered Bridge
Fifty years ago, at the urging of the Perkasie Historical Society, the South Perkasie Covered Bridge was spared the wrecking ball. Originally constructed of white oak and hemlock that was transported down the Delaware River to Lumberville, this culturally significant structure was moved to its current, landlocked location in Perkasie Borough’s Lenape Park.
This morning, Commissioners Jim Cawley, chairman, Charley Martin and Diane Ellis-Marseglia, LCSW, conducted a full slate of county business inside the historically salvaged bridge-turned-monument. The board approved resolutions for 21 departments that totaled more than $60 million – most involving the human services the county provides on a daily basis.
“We thought it was important to be here in this rather unique setting to celebrate this marvelous bridge,” Chairman Cawley told the assemblage before Commissioner Martin presented a 50th anniversary proclamation to Jim Pritchard and Hon. Charles W. Baum of the Perkasie Historical Society. The proclamation designated Sept. 3, 2008 as “South Perkasie Covered Bridge Day” throughout the County of Bucks. As Pritchard noted, the structure was the first covered bridge in the county.
The commissioners commended Judge Baum and the Historical Society “for continued dedication to this honored treasure from the Perkasie community’s past, and for making it accessible to future generations.” The bridge was initially constructed in 1832 by authorization of the Board of Bucks County Commissioners at a cost of $1,329.41. It was relocated three-quarters of a mile during the summer of 1958, at a cost of just over $7,000. Part of its charm includes the twin signs at each opening that read: “$5 fine for any person riding or driving over this bridge faster than a walk or smoking segars [sic] on.”
During the resolution portion of the meeting, the commissioners approved multiple contracts for the Area Agency on Aging, Children & Youth, Human Services and MH/MR – the vast majority of which involved state and federal pass-through funding. The largest item was a $47.7 million renewal of the Administrative Entity Operating Agreement through the Pennsylvania Office of Mental Retardation, Department of Public Welfare.
The commissioners also approved a $123,500 contract with the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania to update the county’s Natural Areas Inventory as required by the Pennsylvania Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). According to county Open Space Coordinator Kris Kern, the original Natural Areas Inventory was prepared in 1999 and has been consulted as a valuable guide to the county’s ongoing open-space planning and acquisition.
A pair of approved Police Training contracts through the Pennsylvania Dept. of Transportation included $100,000 for the continuation of the Comprehensive Highway Safety Program and $104,400 for continuation of the DUI Enforcement Program. Police Training Director Harry McCann explained that the four-pronged DUI program is in its 15th year of paying overtime expenses for members of the county’s 42 police departments who participate.
In addition, the commissioners approved a one-year, $2.3 million contract through the Pennsylvania Dept. of Public Welfare Medical Assistance Program to provide transportation services to medical assistance clients. This range of services includes dialysis patients and other patients with special needs.
During his bi-weekly report to the commissioners, Chief Operating Officer David Sanko touched on several items, including next Thursday morning’s seventh annual Sept. 11 Ceremony of Remembrance, which will take place at 8:30 a.m. in the Doylestown courthouse courtyard. Mr. Sanko also announced the date for the county’s third annual Pandemic Flu Drill, which will be conducted from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18. This year’s free flu shot event, which is conducted by the Health Dept. and hundreds of volunteers, will include three points of dispensing and two drive-thru locations. The county encourages new volunteers to sign up to participate in the event through the Web site.
The COO report also included a presentation to Chairman Cawley by Planning Commission Executive Director Lynn Bush. The award, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, recognized Bucks County as the 2008 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence for its ongoing role in the Household Hazardous Waste Program.
Mr. Sanko also provided an update on the Doylestown garage project, which drew no zoning challenges during the just-concluded, 30-day challenge period. A pre-bid meeting regarding the project attracted 30 potential vendors.
The meeting also included a proclamation recognizing September as National Preparedness Month, which was read by Commissioner Cawley. In the proclamation, the chairman encouraged Bucks County residents to visit the emergency preparedness Web site, www.ReadyNotifyPA.org, to sign up for emergency alert notifications to be delivered to cell phones, computers and personal digital assistants.
A third proclamation, read by Commissioner Marseglia, recognized Sept. 7-13 as “Suicide Awareness Week” throughout the county. As Marseglia noted, “Every 18 minutes another life is lost, but the risk for human self- destruction can be reduced through public awareness, education and treatment.”
For a full audio account of the September 3 meeting, please go to www.BucksCounty.org and click on the link on the commissioners’ meeting page.