Another “tremendous” season is in the books at the White Deer Golf Course, with the county receiving a $50,000 check as evidence of the course’s success. The check brings the total from the golf course this year to $100,000.

“I’m here to discuss another tremendously successful year at White Deer Golf Course and a record breaking year in all aspects,” said Chris Strand, regional manager for Indigo Sports, which manages the White Deer Golf Course.

The facility chalked up 63,000 rounds of golf, which Strand said was a 20% growth in two years.

“That’s actually really high compared to a lot of golf courses in the region. After COVID there was a little bit of a boom in golf, but to see that continued success over these last couple years has been tremendous,” Strand said.

He said this season was the highest total revenue ever for a year at White Deer and a gain of over $100,000 to the bottom line this year, far exceeding the positive performance that they’ve had for quite a few years.

“With the continued support of the county and all our guests, leagues, outings, we’ve been able to keep self funding all the improvements of the golf course in all areas, which also helped us continue in this positive direction,” he said.

He noted that last month, the fourth installment of $56,000 had been paid for the purchase of carts, which is the halfway mark to completing those payments.

The county has partnered with Indigo Sports for the last nine years to run the golf course.

“I’ve been here from day one, and it’s been really amazing to see the success where it came from. You know, it’s a real concern for the county when we first got here, financially, especially. So now, the one that continues to be self-sustaining and really an asset to the county and community,” Strand said.

Commissioner Scott Metzger echoed Strand.

“We know that there’s definitely been improvements over the years. One which was once a money pit is now an asset. It’s been turned around,” Metzger said.

Commissioner Marc Sortman pointed out that the success achieved through Indigo’s management shows that “an outside source running something is way more efficient than the county ran it for many, many years.”

One of the action items on the commissioners’ agenda for their meeting this week was to approve a five-year extension to the contract with Indigo, which they unanimously did.

Other actions taken by the commissioners included giving final approval to the 2025 county budget holding the line on the real estate millage rate at 6.5.

“The budget I present today prioritizes our essential services and infrastructure needs; maintains the high quality services that our community values; and promotes fiscal responsibility and fiscal conservativeness,” said Mya Toon, director of financial management.

“Although we still have much to do to get to a structurally balanced budget, we have recognized budget issues in this budget cycle and as previously state, raising taxes will be the last resort until all financial due diligence is done,” she said.

“This means we will continue to be prudent in the upcoming budget year. We will continue to examine expenses with a critical eye and we will begin to implement long term integrated financial planning, inclusive of budget reduction strategies, forecasting and strategic planning,” she added.

As the result of adjustments during the time that the budget was on display, the total 2025 budget comes in at $128,706,350, with the total operating budget being $118,169,769 and the capital budget at $10,536,581, which is a 25% reduction over the current year’s budget, Toon said.

In other actions, the commissioners approved a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) 2022 budget revision and submission to the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) with Montoursville Borough in the amount of $1,837 for the borough’s curb cut project and a CDBG 2023 subrecipient agreement with the borough in the amount of $88,002 for the same project.

Seven agreements for the distribution of American Rescue Plan Act ( ARPA) were also approved. They included: an amendment to the agreement with the Williamsport Municipal Water Authority extending the termination date to 12/31/25; a subrecipient agreement amending with the Williamsport Sanitary Authority extending the termination date to 12/31/25; the subrecipient agreement amendment with Montoursville Borough extending the subrecipient agreement amendment with Lycoming County Water & Sewer Authority for Riverside Drive in the amount of $485,900; the subrecipient agreement amendment with Hughesville – Wolf Township Joint Municipal Authority in the amount of $600,519; the interagency agreement with Lycoming County Department of Public Safety in the amount of $1,224,883; and the subrecipient agreement amendment with Lycoming County Water & Sewer Authority changing the project from Armstrong Township Inflow and infiltration project to Armstrong Generator Project.

It was noted that all of the $22 million that the county had received in ARPA funds have been allocated.

Other items approved were: an amendment with Kleinfelder: Century Engineering for Subdivision and Land Development Technical Review and agreements with Jill Fry and Dawn Sweeley for stenography services; the 2023-2024 Pennsylvania Housing and Pennsylvania Housing Affordability Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) subrecipient agreement with STEP Inc. – Supportive Housing Program in the amount of $200,000;.the 2023-2024 PHARE subrecipient agreement with STEP Inc. in the amount of $50,000; the 2023-2024 PHARE subrecipient agreement with STEP Inc. – Master Leasing Program in the amount of $250,000; the 2023-2024 PHARE subrecipient agreement with STEP Inc. – Homes in Need Program in the amount of $200,000; and the 2023-2024 PHARE subrecipient agreement with Greater Lycoming Habitat for Humanity (Scott Street) the 2023-2024 PHARE subrecipient agreement with Greater Lycoming Habitat for Humanity Home Preservation Program in the amount of $25,000.

Five change orders related to work on the new coroner’s building were approved, extending completion dates for various work by 13 days.

Agreements with Icon Fire Solutions in the amount of $1,550 for maintenance of the county buildings’ sprinkler system; $975 to replace a relief pumping valve; and $4,895 for repairs to the sprinkler system at Third Street Plaza were approved.

An extension to the agreement with Hunter & Lomison Inc. until Dec. 31, 2025, for the maintenance of generators and an agreement with M&M Asphalt for snow removal were approved.

Other items approved were: the annual subscription fee for Zoho Corporation Manage Engine Division in the amount of $8,475; the Software Support Renewal with Advantage Software in the amount of $4,554; an agreement with Melillo for Infrastructure Managed Support & Security Services in the amount of $200,172; an amendment to the agreement with Geo Reentry Services to extend the it for one year from 1/1/2025 through 12/31/2025; the SAVIN Maintenance and Service Agreement with the PDAI; and the agreement with Scotilla Psychological Services LLC.

Under personnel, the following full-time positions in the Public Defender’s Office were filled at the rates of pay listed: Cody Englehart, administrative assistant/paralegal, $17.69 per hour; and Riley Shaffer, clerk III, $16.07 per hour.

The next commissioners’ meeting will be at 10 a.m. Jan. 2 in the Commissioners’ Board Room, 3rd floor Third Street Plaza, 33 W. Third St. There is no meeting on Dec. 26.