Susquehanna County Blog

In the past couple of weeks, two businesses have opened up in our fair county.  These businesses, Tractor Supply (PA 706 just East of Montrose in Bridgewater Township) and Golden China Buffet (in the Mt. View Plaza on US 11 in Great Bend Township have had their Grand Openings.  Each are off to a great start.  Apparently, these two businesses see a potential to do good business here.  The residents of the area have responded well.  Personally, I think they have better than an average chance to succeed. 

At first glance, one could be cynical and think there is no way they can survive here.  However, after walking around Tractor Supply for about an hour (and waiting for another half  hour to check out) I realized that the people who were there, were not just buying the specials, but actually shopping for things needed.  Things they would have had to drive to Scranton or Binghamton in many cases to get. 

Although the merchandise is different, it sort of reminded me of when we had an Ames Store about a mile up the road (now it’s Price Chopper for all you flatlanders).  People came from all over the county to shop there.  Did they have the best quality, price or selection?  Absolutely not.  But I can tell you this, the population here was absolutely loyal to “our Ames store”.  In fact, it stayed open long after most others had closed.  Sales were so good, they brought in merchandise from other stores during the store closing sale to keep “our Ames” open.  Yes, the corporate management of the company failed, but certainly not from a lack of support here!  I see this level of support at Tractor Supply. 

The other evening, I was away from home at dinner time and found myself in the Great Bend area.  I was pondering the choices of Dobbs, McDonalds, Arbys and Burger King, feeling sorry for myself and wondering whether or not I should stop at Reddons for a dose of Lipitor, when a lightbulb went on.  I remember seeing the full page ads for the Golden China Buffet and thought this would be something completely different.  Yes, there are several Chinese restaurants in Susquehanna County; and yes I have tried them all over the years with great success, but they are mostly set up for take out, not staying and relaxing.  This was completely different.  It is a real restaurant! I didn’t do a formal seat count, but I bet they have seating for 75 or more.  Oh yes, the buffet had a good selection of  food and the price was reasonable.  Worth a trip there. 

Both businesses have friendly staff who actually are happy to see you come in.  Let’s support these new additions to our county which have made our quality of life here a little better.

One sad note, for those who like authentic Mexican food.  Mamasita’s Mexican Restaurant in Lenox Plaza (Lenox at PA 92 & PA 106 at I-81 Exit 211) is open, but only Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  A sign in the window says “for sale”.  I asked why.  I learned that it certainly is not from a lack of business.  Go  there any of the three days they are open and you will see  what I mean.  That place has really excellent food.  People come from Scranton, Binghamton and beyond to eat there.  One word of caution, it is definitely NOT a fast food restaurant.  Great staff there who enjoy what they do!  Everything is home made.  The drive and the wait are worth your time.  Actually, I hope they don’t sell.  It will be difficult for someone else to duplicate the food and the atmosphere.  Get there while you can!

Anyway, all three businesses deserve your support.  They are people who have made a business decision to invest in Susquehanna County.  When you go there, or any local merchant that does business here, please take the time to thank them for investing themselves here.

One last comment.  None of these businesses were brought here by our great Economic Development arm (Central Bradford Progress Authority.  They all made their own business decisions and invested in Susquehanna County on their own, and at no taxpayer expense.

No, I wasn’t paid, bribed, coerced, given free food or merchandise or anything else to write any of this.  I just like to give credit where it is due.

The writer of this blog was able to obtain two pieces of correspondence which readers may find interesting.  First is a letter to Rowland Sharp, Susquehanna County Railroad Authority from Denise Pyers, Director, Bureau of Rail Freight, Harrisburg.  Sharp, as you may remember, was the chairman of that Authority until last year. 

The letter, reproduced here is a request for an annual carloading report to be delivered on or before April 15.  This seems as if it is a reasonable request if you don’t know anything about the history of this matter. 

pyers-letter-to-sharp.tif

There are a couple of problems with this request.  The Bureau of Rail Freight was completely aware of the fact that there was no project where the SCRA obtained any funding from that agency.  In fact, if there had been a project …  Instead of all that, please read the response that Sharp, now a private citizen drafted to Ms. Pyers. 

sharp-letter-to-pyers-at-railfreight-2-2-2009-pdf.pdf

So, in the end, the Authority still has $50.38 in their treasury.  They still have good members with good ideas.  They still have the plans for a project which actually makes more sense today than it did originally.

But……… 

They are still dealing with:

A do nothing Susquehanna County economic development board whose members tend to hang on every word issued by the Central Bradford Progress Authority.  Don’t believe it?  Attend a meeting for yourself.  4th Thursday, 10am, 31 Public Avenue, Montrose. 

The Central Bradford Progress Authority is the funded economic development arm of Susquehanna County who talks alot, but also does absolutely nothing. 

Let’s not forget our very own arrogant, non-supportive, condescending county commissioners who won’t even help this Authority with minimal funds to operate, never mind support a project which would help the residents of this county in so many ways. 

And finally, the Commonwealth’s own Bureau of Rail Freight, who doesn’t even remember they told the Authority they didn’t have a project, but still require reports.  Is this bureaucracy at its best or what? 

To steal a few words from ABC News’ John Stossel - “Give Me A Break”.

Your turn.

This post has been a long time coming. 

In 2006 & 2007, the Susquehanna County Railroad Authority had a $2.5 million grant release from a $4 million capital budget item which the members had worked with (retired) Senator Madigan to achieve.  The overview of the project was initially twofold. 

First, the Authority was to work with Canadian Pacific Railway to create a 10,000 foot passing siding North of New Milford.  The purpose of a passing siding is to allow two trains travelling in opposite or even the same direction to go past each other. 

Along with increasing the flow of rail traffic, removing a few trucks from the road, saving fuel, man hours, among other things, this would also allow for the second item to occur.  For those who live or travel along US 11 or I-81 in that part of the county, you know this has occurred and this new infrastructure is being used several times per day.

The second item was the construction of a small transload facility in roughly the same general area as the passing siding.  This did not happen as most know. 

The purpose of a transload facility is to transfer commodities from rail to truck for local delivery and from truck to rail to ship products out.  Some examples of this are bluestone, timber, finished concrete products - OUT; and fertilizer, feed, aggregate, cement, propane, and general merchandise  - IN.

Additionally, storage, both covered and open could have been constructed, so that there could be warehouse space available. 

Finally, although never envisioned until much later, a transload facility could also be used to transport items for natural gas well drilling in along with shipping “fracing” water in and waste water out, thus removing more trucks from our fragile, outdated roadways (including our interstate highway system).

Again, none of that happened.  The obvious question is Why?

A bit more background.  The Authority was represented by counsel, at the direction of the Bureau of Rail Freight.  This counsel, Patrick Lavelle, Esq., a very well regarded attorney from Clarks Summit worked with the owners of the land to structure an acceptable offer as well as interfaced with the Professional Engineer and the Commonwealth to make this all happen.  All that remained at the time was to go to a local bank, borrow the match money and get started.  Sounds easy, right?  Not so fast.  There is a bit more. 

At a special meeting in December, 2006, the members of the Authority, along two of the three Commissioners went on record as supporting this plan wholeheartedly.  The third commissioner, who was not present at that meeting, was previously on record as supporting the project.  This is really on the fast track (pardon the pun) now, right?  Not so fast.

 You will note that nothing has been said to this point about the Central Bradford Progress Authority, the Economic Development arm of Susquehanna County.  That is because, although they had met with members of the Authority several times, they were playing their own games, such as attempting to grab portions of the land for the transload facility out from under the Authority. 

After the December, 2006 special meeting, the members approached a local bank to obtain the local match money to get the project started..  They were extremely supportive, but soon after (early January, 2007) sent correspondence stating they would require a county guarantee of the loan.  This, by the way, is typical for startup Authorities, especially for their first project.

This all came to a head in early 2007 at a meeting of the Commissioners, the Authority and the Central Bradford Progress Authority. At that meeting, several things came out.  First, it was apparent there would be no support from two of the Commissioners (the same two who supported the project in the December, 2006 meeting).  Second, the Executive Director from Central Bradford Progress Authority let it slip that he had been told NOT to work with the Authority.  When pressed by the Authority Chairman, the man from Central Bradford Progress Authority refused to indicate who told him so.

After that, it was all down hill.  In April, the Commissioners attempted to get the Chairman of the Authority removed.  There was a vote of confidence brought on by an Authority member at the succeding meeting, with Attorney Lavelle present.  The Chairman remained as the vote was 4 - 2.  The members went to several other banks, all who were supportive of the project, but all wanting a guarantee from the Commissioners.  During this time, the Central Bradford Progress Authority didn’t respond to verbal or written correspondence from the Authority OR at least one Commssioner, requesting assistance.

The time was growing short for the project to be completed (or at least started).  Nothing was happening.  The Bureau of Rail Freight, split the two part project, allowing Canadian Pacific Railway to use other grant money and their own match to construct the passing siding.  As mentioned previously, this was completed and is being used today.

Time ran out for the transload facility project and Rail Freight allocated the funds to other projects in the commonwealth.

A second confidence vote was brought about by the same member as done previously.  The result was the same.   The Chairman of the Authority remained.  The (at the time) Commissioners had indicated they would not consider any guarantee with out the removal of the Chairman.  The Authority members saw through the Commissioners, noting that they were only trying to save their own skins so they could be re-elected. 

In the end, two of the three Commissioners were NOT re-elected.  The Chairman, whose term expired at the end of the year was not reappointed, but also was not replaced until the April, 2008 meeting. 

So, that brings us to the current Commissioners and what they are doing to support the Susquehanna County RailRoad Authority.  Two words - ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

It has been reported that the Authority has a total of $50.38.  Absolutely no funding has been allocated to the fund the continuing operations of the Authority. 

The acting Chairman, in November, 2008 wrote a letter to the (current) Commissioners requesting help with an audit, which is required by the Commonwealth on an annual basis.  The letter also noted an outstanding invoice from Attorney Lavelle.  Of course the Authority has no funding to pay a CPA (required by the Commonwealth) and certainly not Attorney Lavelle’s bill.  In the past, a previous member had personally paid for the audit.  The counsel fees were incurred, as stated above, through direction of the Bureau of Rail Freight. 

The response came about a month later, signed by all three Comissioners, MaryAnn Warren (D), Chairman, Leon Allen (D), Vice-Chair, and Michael Giangrieco, Esq. (R).  Paraphrasing here, the letter stated that while they understood the situation, but they were not going to do anything about it - and further - they stated that thought should have been given to how the debts were to be paid before they were incurred.

This is economic development in Susquehanna County?  Give me a break.  So, apparently it doesn’t matter who the Chairman of the Authority is, each is to treated with contempt.  Obviously, the long range plan is NOT to have any meaningful economic development in Susquehanna County. 

This writer believed that anyone would have been better than the last set (Roberta Kelly, MaryAnn Warren and Jeff Loomis) of Commissioners. 

After the lack of respect shown to constituents at the Commissioner meetings, their inaccesability, their arrogance and superior attitudes this writer has to admit, he was wrong! 

Finally, please make no mistake about these comments.  This is not limited to the actions toward the Railroad Authority. 

Please also consider the fact that no minutes are kept on Public Comment at Commissioner meetings.  Why?

Please further consider the lousy treatment offered to the innkeepers throughout the County who requested the room taxes collected to be used to further tourism.

It is incumbent on all who live in Susquehanna County to ask our elected officials to explain their actions.  Are they really representing us or are they only being self serving? 

Your thoughts.

As long as the information from the Bureau for Labor Statistics regarding wages was posted, I thought it would be interesting to let you know a few other statistics about our Fair County.    After all, if you don’t know where you are, it’s tough to see if you have made any progress.  This information was gathered from the Center for Rural Pennsylvania website - www.ruralpa.org - and is quite interesting.  It becomes even more interesting when you start comparing Susquehanna County to other similar counties in the Commonwealth.

 POPULATION

Starting with the basics: Susquehanna County has about 823 square miles.  The estimated population as of 2006 was 41,889 or 51 people per square mile.  The population appears to have declined by roughly eight tenths of a percent (0.8%)  since the 2000 census. 

Of these 41,889 citizens, the average age in 2006 was 41.4.  22.3% or about 9,431 were under 18.  Remember that number, you will see it again soon.  61.9% or about 25,929 are between the ages of 18 and 64.  Roughly 15.8% or 6,618 are over 65.  Due to rounding, there is one missing citizen, sorry.

INCOME

There were 16,529 households which had a median household income in 2004 of $36,104, the latest year available on this site.  By the way, this was reduction in household income from 2002 by 0.4%.  In 2005, the average annual wage was $24,487, which was an increase of 5.4%from 1995.   If you check the inflation rate for this 10 year period, I am sure you will find it greatly exceeds 5.4%.  By the way, the $24,487 annual figure works out to be just under $471 per week.  This is in line with the information posted from the Bureau of Labor Statistics report for 1st Quarter, 2007.

POVERTY

The estimated poverty rate increased from 10.6% to 11.5% from 2002 to 2004, again, the most recent years available on this site.  The estimated poverty rate for children under 18 increased from 15.6% to 17.6% for the same time period.  Remember the statistic above which said there are 9,431 under 18?  This works out to about 1,644 children under 18 who live in Susquehanna County who included in the estimated poverty rate.  THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. 

 PUBLIC ASSISTANCE

The percentage of the population receiving Cash Assistance declined from 1.6% to 1.2% betweeen June, 2005 and June, 2007.  This means that of the 41,889 citizens, as of June, 2007, about 502 were receiving cash assistance.

The percentage of the population eligible for Medical Assistance also decreased from 16.2% to 16% or 6,702 who were eligible as of June, 2007.

The population participating in the Food Stamp Program for the same time period increased from 7.5% to 8.2%, or 3,435 as of June, 2007.

Finally, the population participating in the WIC program declined from June, 2005 to June, 2007 from 2.5% to 2.3% or about 963.

LABOR FORCE

There were 8,964 total employees in the second quarter of 2006.  Of these, 7.8% worked in the manufacturing sector; 17.7% worked in the wholesale and retail trade sectors; mining, construction, utilities & transportation & warehousing comprised of 11.9%; information, finance, insurance, real estate & rental & leasingwere 4.3%; education services, professional, scientific & technical services accounted for another 2.2%; while health care and social assistance made up 14.9%; and other sectors accounted for 41.2%. 

In 2000, there were 19,072 employed persons who were 16 or older.  26.3% were employed in professional or management jobs.  Another 22.5% were employed in “white collar” jobs.  Service jobs accounted for 14% of the total.  37.3% were employed with “Blue Collar” jobs. 

UNEMPLOYMENT

The Unemployment Rate has steadily dropped from 2002 through 2006, the latest year available on this site.  Starting in 2002 - 6.3%; 2003 - 6.1%; 2004 - 5.7%, 2005 - 5.1%; 2006 - 4.8%. 

Enough numbers for one day.  The purpose here is to acquaint you who may not be aware of the general health of Susquehanna County.   Later, there will be more statistics, but for now, you have been acquainted with the population, wages, employment and poverty in out county. 

The parting thought for the day is this -  What government or non-government solution can you come up with to deal with the Under 18 group of who live in poverty here as well as other countries?