EMPORIUM: Cameron County commissioners opened their Feb. 19, 2026 meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and a call for public comment, but no formal visitors were listed on the record and no one offered comments on the agenda.

Minutes Corrected And Approved

Commissioners moved to approve the prior meeting minutes, briefly correcting the date during discussion. The board ultimately approved the minutes for Feb. 5.

Recreation Center: $50,000 Challenge Grant And Next Steps

Officials reported they received notice that Cameron County was awarded a $50,000 challenge grant from “the foundation” to support an application aimed at offsetting costs tied to the county’s recreation center project. Later in the meeting, commissioners also approved submitting a letter of commitment indicating a $50,000 match to support the grant process, while noting efforts were underway to secure outside funds so the county may not need to cover the full match directly.

Commissioners also approved a related payment for technology upgrades connected to recreation center planning and the Memorial Hall revitalization effort.

County Operations: Elections, Audits, IT Issues

In staff reports, officials said they completed closeout work for an election integrity grant tied to the 2024 general election and were preparing for the spring election on March 19. A legal advertisement was scheduled for Feb. 24 to list open positions going on the ballot (without names), and officials noted petition circulation for candidates had started the day before.

Other updates included:

• Work with townships on liquid fuels grant reporting so funding can be properly dispersed.
• Assistance from the county’s IT contractor on staff email issues and office phone repairs.
• County auditors being in the office for the last two weeks reviewing records.
• Attendance at code of conduct training with a judge, court administrator and court staff.

Projects, Partnerships, And A D. C. Presentation

Commissioners said they had participated in a series of joint meetings, including solicitor-related work and a behavioral health meeting. Officials also provided an update on a land acquisition effort involving a conservancy and the borough, noting grants had been awarded but a funding gap remains.

One official also reported preparing for a presentation in Washington, D.C. for a conference focused on rural placemaking and economic development, planned as a joint presentation with Tina Johns from the chamber. They also mentioned receiving a first edited video for a gravel bikepacking group and receiving branding strategies and logos for a Gravel Expo planned for March.

GIS And Policy Work: AI / Data Centers And Emergency Mapping

Commissioners discussed county association work that may involve a cross-committee collaboration to examine legislation and policy surrounding AI and data centers, including impacts to energy, the environment, and land use — topics expected to surface at an upcoming conference in Harrisburg.

The board also heard a report from a commissioner newly serving as a GEO Board liaison member, who outlined goals including improving emergency services mapping, standardizing GIS data for 911, supporting better parcel/land-record initiatives, advocating for stable funding for aerial imagery and elevation data (including LiDAR), and expanding the use of geospatial data for economic development and broadband planning.

Major Highlight: $90.6 Million Broadband Award For Multi-County Buildout

A key portion of the meeting centered on regional broadband expansion. Officials said Core Connect, a nonprofit open-access broadband organization, received final approval Feb. 9 for Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funding totaling $90,661,771.

The project is intended to connect more than 10,000 units across a 10-county region: Cameron, Clarion, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, Mercer, Lawrence, Warren, and Venango counties. Officials said the buildout will involve fiber optic infrastructure, and emphasized the open-access model and the impact they expect it to have for rural households, entrepreneurs, and small businesses. Officials described the award as a milestone after more than two years of work, while noting the buildout phase is now beginning.

Community Updates: Rural Health Town Hall, Workforce Study, And Clearances Help

Officials said they were in conversations with the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health about hosting a public town hall in June or July, with a possible collaboration involving Elk County. They also referenced a rural healthcare Zoom meeting and ongoing meetings connected to a North Central workforce study, saying early sessions suggest the contractor is conducting a deep dive into the region.

Additional county business updates included:

• The assessment office’s judicial sales process remaining on schedule, with an early-to-mid-year timeframe.
• Real estate tax bills being reviewed, with Feb. 26 referenced for that review.
• A long-running Northwest Savings Bank tax appeal being finalized through settlement, closing out the county’s involvement.

One official highlighted several Community Education Council items, including mandated reporter training through CAPS on April 1 and April 15, plus free volunteer clearance workshops on April 6 and April 20 to help organizations navigate the clearance process. Officials also said steps are underway for the CEC to become a fingerprinting site, which would reduce travel to other counties for fingerprinting services.

Federal Funding Notes And Concerns About Hospital Service Reductions

Commissioners noted federal appropriations funding tied to borough projects, including improvements to a borough building that functions as a town hall/Emporium space, along with funding related to ambulance services.

Officials also discussed concerns about reduced services at Bradford Hospital, including closures affecting access to emergency services and long-term care, and said advocacy efforts were beginning to take shape.

Treasurer’s Report And Actions Approved

A treasurer’s report cited January expenses of roughly $1.55 million, noting the majority reflected fund transfers — including transfers tied to a tax anticipation note and dedicated funding moving out of the general fund into smaller funds.

Commissioners also referenced completing procurement diligence for a service process that did not receive responses, allowing the county to proceed with hiring.

The board approved multiple items, including:

• Payment to ACS for recreation center network updates and equipment funded through ARPA/Act funds totaling $22,346, described as part of the Memorial Hall revitalization effort to expand connectivity, enable free public Wi-Fi, and support conferencing equipment and a private telehealth space.
• Submission of a letter of commitment for a $50,000 match tied to the recreation center challenge grant.
• A 10-year loan to Penn Pallet for $150,000 at 1.5% interest. During discussion, officials described the loan as supporting storage and a related business activity involving materials associated with the glass industry.

Commissioners also discussed potential future recreation improvements, including converting a basketball court footprint to pickleball, researching what similar communities spent on comparable projects, and pursuing DCNR planning/feasibility funding available to small communities.

Meeting Adjourned

With no further business, commissioners voted to adjourn and thanked attendees.