Emergency communications in the southwestern part of Schuylkill County are better now because of a new tower.

At their Wednesday morning meeting, the county commissioners discussed projects done with American Recovery Plan Act funds.

One of those projects was the new communications tower, according to Commissioner Barron “Boots” Hetherington.

“The new 911 tower is part of a three-year, $3.9 million project to improve emergency communications,” Hetherington said. “There was a dead spot behind Mahantango Mountain, between Mahantango and Hegins. Firefighters, police and ambulance personnel can now be heard from Hegins and Hubley townships. It’s better than I expected it to be. We have the same problem in Union Township, but the folks who own the windmills are going to let us put a unit on one of the windmills.”

Farm preservation

Up to five new farms will be admitted to Schuylkill County’s Farm Preservation Program in 2024.

At their work session last week, the county commissioners approved $200,000 be added for a total of $255,580.39 to the program. The county funds are matching funds from county revenues plus interest collected from Clean and Green rollback tax penalties.

Kelse Brown, agricultural program coordinator for the Schuylkill County Conservation District, said anywhere from one to five farms are admitted to the program every year.

“There are currently 115 farm easements in Schuylkill County covering about 12,000 acres,” Brown said. “We have a waiting list of 84 farms. When property easements are funded by the county, it gives us more flexibility with state and federal funds.”

Farmers can apply during the year, Brown said.

“The whole premise of the program is to find prime farmland with the right soils to grow crops,” Brown said. “They are each scored and graded according to their acreage and soils, and ranked on a list. They have to go through the county approval process, then the state approval process, and a federal approval process if applicable.”

Hetherington’s farm is included in the program, but that easement was paid for 100% with state funds, Brown said.