Commissioners urge residents to take part in 2020 US Census
NORRISTOWN >> The Montgomery County Commissioners want to get the word out to all county residents how important it is to be counted in the 2020 U.S. Census.
David Zellers, head of the Montgomery County Commerce Department, started off the the Jan. 23 commissioners’ meeting with a presentation on efforts the county is taking to encourage participation in the upcoming head count.
Zellers recapped for the commissioners the answers to key questions that will be posed to residents.
“The census is a ninequestion form and it can be completed online for the first time ever or by phone. The survey asks about age, race, gender, type of domicile and phone number. Only the primary respondent for each household is required to provide the type of domicile and phone number,” said Zellers. “Citizenship status is not a question on the 2020 census. There are seven additional questions for each person residing in the home. This will also be the first census where individuals can check more than one box when identifying their race and origins.”
County officials stress that federal dollars come back to Montgomery County based on population so it’s important that every resident is counted.
Montco 2040 plan
Scott France, section chief of county planning, presented a report on the Montco 2040 plan. Outlined in the plan were accomplishments the county has made over the past five years as well as goals for 2020 and beyond.
The report was broken down into three themes including connected communities, sustainable places and vibrant economy.
“The goal should encompass not just bringing these communities together but also physical realm — transportation routes, supporting those downtowns where those interactions take place,” said France.
The county is looking to connect communities by improving transportation, encouraging collaboration and partnerships and expanding county trails and greenways. The county is also looking to conserve natural resources, support diverse housing choices and provide opportunities for healthy lifestyles. Among its goals for vibrant economies are attracting and retaining businesses and facilitating marketing for the county.
A full report on the 2040 plan for Montgomery County can be found at montcopa.org/planning.
Election upgrades
The last announcement at Thursday’s meeting came from Chief Operating Officer Lee Soltysiak. Soltysiak touched on some of the upgrades that will be implemented for the 2020 elections. Those changes include streamlining the check-in process by evening out the number of names in each sign-in book. The number of scanners at polling locations is also expected to increase and improvements are expected to be made to the set-up process for the ballot marking device.
Resolutions
Commissioners approved five resolutions Thursday beginning with the authorization of municipal community planning assistance for Lower Merion Township, Salford Township and Worcester Township. Contracts for these municipalities consist of a 50/50 cost share and will provide a total of $109,000 to Lower Merion, $63,000 to Salford and $64,995 for Worcester.
Commissioner authorized the closeout of a DCNR grant for $200,000 for the Chester Valley Trail that was designed for the Schuylkill Valley Trail on South Gulph Road through Bridgeport to Norristown. The design has been completed and construction bids have gone out.
On Thursday, Commissioners also committed $355,000 in funds for farmland preservation as well as a TEFRA approval for Mainline Health System.
The adoption of a county fund balance policy was also adopted in a roll call vote Thursday. Commissioners Valerie Arkoosh and Ken Lawrence voted in favor of the formal policy, while Commissioner Joe Gale opposed.
Awards of contract
Twenty-six awards of contract were announced at Thursday’s meeting.
• Contract award for Assets & Infrastructure for service to Herman Goldner Company in the amount of $23,399
• Contract award for Assets & Infrastructure for inspection services to Michael Baker International Inc. in the amount of $94,682.35
• Contract award for Assets & Infrastructure for inspection services to Traffic Planning & Design Inc. in the amount of $83,004
• Contract award for Assets & Infrastructure for inspection services to Traffic Planning & Design Inc. in the amount of $105,873
• Contract award for Assets & Infrastructure for inspection services to McTish, Kunkel & Associates in the amount of $81,060
• Contract award for Assets & Infrastructure for fuel to WEX Inc. in the amount of $200,000
• Contract award for
ITS for contractor services to Eastern Business Software Inc. in the amount of $115,350
• Contract award for Public Safety for equipment to Phillips Healthcare in the amount of $151,797.38
• Contract award for Public Safety for internet connection to KINBER in the amount of $29,172
• Contract award for Public Safety for maintenance to Intergraph Corporation in the amount of $469,432.11
• Contract award for Public Safety for consulting to Motorola Solutions Inc. in the amount of $141,159.29
• Contract award for Purchasing for toner cartridges to Rasix Computer Center in the amount of $120,000
• Contract award for Sheriff for equipment to Witmer Public Safety Group in the amount of $35,808.15
• Contract award for Sheriff for training to Montgomery County Community College of Blue Bell in the amount of $77,935
• Contract award for Veterans Affairs for flags to multiple providers in the amount of $77,460.20
• Contract award for Voter Services for printing services to Barton & Cooney in the amount of $36,650
• Contract award for Voter Services for supplies
to William Penn Printing Company in the amount of $34,821.40
• Contract amendment for Adult Probation for a consultant to Resources for Human Development Inc. in the amount of $505,000
• Contract amendment for Assets & Infrastructure for trash removal to Waste Management in the amount of $8,272.44
• Contract renewal and amendment for Assets & Infrastructure to Shred IT in the amount of $45,000
• Contract amendment for Planning Commission for engineering to Alfred Benesch & Company in the amount of $15,200
• Contract amendment and renewal for Voter Services to Dominion Voting Systems Inc. in the amount of $1,408,118
• Contract renewal for Finance for financial services to The PFM Group
• Contract renewal for ITS for Microsoft Certified Share Point Partner to RSM US LLP in the amount of $300,000
• Contract renewal for ITS for Microsoft Certified CRM Partner to RSM US LLP in the amount of $600,000.
• Six contract renewals and two amendments for Health and Human Services