HONESDALE, PA — The Wayne County Commissioners last week approved a general construction permit to rehab the Lackawaxen River boat ramp at the county’s Park Street Complex.

“We’re trying to use the river,” Commissioners Chair Brian Smith said.

The ramp will provide a link to recreation downriver in the borough by water and trail and allow riverside pedestrian use of the playground, basketball and bocce courts at the complex.

The area is also accessible along the PA Y-Route bicycle route.

Smith said the trail, of about one-half mile in length, is being created by county correction facility prisoners and will stretch to the riverside Wayne Memorial Hospital parking lot. There is easy access to the river pedestrian bridge, Honesdale Garden, The Cooperage Project and Riverside Park.

Smith said the county will be seeking a variety of grant money for the work, including Department of Conservation and Natural Resources waterways funding.

In other business at their brief February 2 meeting the commissioners accepted the first quarter, FY-17 financial report from Children & Youth Services, showing costs of $1,231,254, of which $262,254 (about 21%) was local funding.

They also hired long-time radio journalist Michele “Mikki” Uzupes for an IT digital media specialist position.