Celebrating ‘The Essence & Spirit of the Grange’
tofdHTSTltN - bach AugustI tens of thousands of area residents trek to trightstown Township’s spacious greenway for the Middletown drange Fair No. S84. mart agricultural and animal showcaseI part community reunion and part amusement midwayI it traditionally opens with a full slate of Bucks County Board of Commissioners business.
ln Aug.15I after Commissioners oobert d. iougheryI chairmanI Charles H. Martin and Diane M. bllis-MarsegliaI iCSt participated in fairopening ceremoniesI the board approved S5 contract resolutions involving 23 county departments.
At the outset of the meetingI held on the bntertainment Tent stageI Morgan tasser of mlumstead Township was crowned 2012 drange Fair nueen. drange Fair RIfiFLDOV SRHVHQWHG WHH DQnual locally grown products baskets to the commissionersI thanking them for their nurturing support of the next generation of Bucks County farmers. fn summing up the opening festivitiesI which also featured the awarding of the Fred droshens Conservation Farmer of the Year Award to games Harris of merkasieI Chairman ioughery noted that the morning “captured the essence and spirit of the drange Fair.”
Bucks County Conservation District (BCCD) Director dretchen Schatschneider presented Mr. Harris with an aerial photo of his 1T4-acre crop and livestock dairy production Holly Brooks Farm. lver the last three yearsI Mr. Harris has worked diligently to bring another dairy outlet central Bucks County.
The meeting featured the approval of a A1T2I935 design contract for mhase f and ff of the County Administration Building oehabilitation mroject. The commissioners unanimously awarded the contract to mSA – Dewberry Design mC of FairfaxI sA. According to Chairman iougheryI there were 13 proposals submitted for the projectI and the commissioners met with three fiQDOLVWV. CRPPLVVLRQHR Martin noted that Dewberry has extensive experience with Courthouses and government buildingsI and their price was competitive. The Administration Building will be rehabilitated in conjunction with the construction of the new gustice Center across Main St.
The Commissioners unanimously approved a conservation easement on the S9.93-acre Tryciecki Farm in Buckingham Township. The county contributed A314IS85 toward the easementI which brings the county’s agricultural preservation total to 12I8TT acres encompassing 152 farms. Since the 2011 drange FairI the
to county has preserved eight farms totaling S0S acresI according to county Agricultural mreservation Director oich Harvey. Buckingham Township has been one of the leading municipalities in the programI with 25 preserved farms that total approximately 4I000 acres.
The commissioners also approved a pair of lpen Space program grants for Bensalem Township as part of the taterfront oevitalization mlan. The grants involve 2.0 acres of riverfront property and also will provide for costs related to public access improvements. Discussion centered on the nature of those public access measures.
For the Health DepartmentI the commissioners approved the AS9I194 SuRFHDVH RI LQfluHQzD YDFFLQH IRRP 6DQRfi 3DVWHuR for the county’s annual mandemic Flu Drill. The drillI which doubles as an emergency preparedness exerciseI will take place at three drive thru locations from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on SaturdayI Sept. 29. During his reportI Chief 2SHRDWLQJ 2IfiFHR BRLDQ Hessenthaler announced the locations for the event: Sellersville Fire Company Station 2T (2 North Main St.I Sellersville 189S0); Northampton Fire Company Station #83 (283 Hatboro od.I Churchville 189SS); and ievittown Fire Company #2 Station 13 (S County tayI ievittown 19058).
The board tabled three fnformation Technology contract proposals for additional considerationI and Commissioner Martin voted against a pair of So- licitor contracts to provide outside counsel in connection with laborI employment and miscellaneous matters. Commissioner Marseglia voted against a pair of Finance insurance policiesI a pair of Corrections contracts for the purchase of inmate clothingI and a AT33I800 contract IRR D flRRRLQJ RHQRYDWLRQ project at Neshaminy Manor.
The next meeting of the Board of Bucks County Commissioners will take place at S p.m. on tednesdayI Sept. 19 at the Dublin Fire CompanyI 194 N. Main St.I DublinI at which time the board will celebrate Dublin Borough’s 100th anniversary.