HONESDALE, PA — Local government business meeting agendas during the summer months are often short, and the August 8 session of the Wayne County Commissioners was no exception.

Their top item dealt with the maintenance of four so-called dry dams, through the commissioners’ approval of an $80,000 Pennsylvania Watershed Rehabilitation Assessment grant application to access Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) funding.

These stone-fill structures were erected by the federal government on various streams following historic 1950s floods, designed to mitigate the rapid stream discharges. Three of the four are located in Dreher Township and the last near White Mills in Berlin Township.

Commissioners Chair Brian Smith said maintenance included inspection and removal of any debris or vegetation that may have accumulated on these structures.

The commissioners announced the state’s approval of a $148,865 PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency grant for funding of adult probation services through June of 2020.

They approved a letter to the PA Historic and Museum Commission (PHMC) supporting the Wayne County Historical Society’s grant application for funding of archival materials storage.

Jeffrey Legg was hired as the part-time temporary manager for county veterans’ services.

Three Children and Youth Services (CYS) positions were changed. Ashley Starnes was promoted to caseworker 2; Taylor Britton was given lateral transfer to become child and adolescent social service program coordinator for Behavioral and Developmental Program and Early Intervention, and Lauren Sandercock was hired as a CYS caseworker 1.

The amendment of 13 employee salaries, either termed as exceptional or corrections, were approved.

They announced the annual Greene-Dreher-Sterling  (GDS) Fair would begin with many free-admission attractions on the August 24 opening day.

The commissioners recessed to reconvene in closed executive session on personnel matters, saying there would be no subsequent actions taken following that session.