HONESDALE, PA — More times than not, when the county commissioners invite regular folks to receive honors, they accept them, say “thanks” and leave. While they are usually invited to comment, regular folks often appear intimidated by their surroundings and seldom do.

That wasn’t the case on July 26, as 50-year voters were recognized in special extended session of the Wayne County Commissioners. State and local officials commended the voters, made presentations, thanked them and proceeded to adjourn. As handshakes were being exchanged, voter Carole Grodack asked if she could get a chance to speak, and did.

“I vote because it’s my civic duty,” she said, continuing about the special duty she felt to her predecessors who had won the vote for women.

Albert Wildenstein went beyond the November elections to note the importance of primaries where predominant party candidates, the likely November winners of important offices, are often selected by “10% of the population.”

For Dorothy Keast, voting is a personal duty to honor veterans like her father, who was a WWII veteran.

David Edwards Jr. tied his voting longevity to his military service. “I came home from Vietnam and started voting,” he said.

In other business, the commissioners opened and tabled for professional review two bids for construction of an elevator at the Park Street Center; approved four June invoices for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) grant-funded projects; approved a grant certification of compliance for a $65,000 PA Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) grant to fund housing for county Human Services; approved a grant certification of compliance for a $684,000 state Medical Assistance Transportation Program (MATP) grant, and approved the $95,000 purchase of HOCTECH body inspection scanner system to prevent the smuggling of contraband by correctional facility inmates.