TodayReporter's Notebook: Minimum age for hunter-trapper education class lowered
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The state Game Commission last week lowered the minimum age required for its “independent study” hunter-trapper education class to 11.
When first initiated in 2006, the Game Commission joined a nationwide trend among conservation agencies to provide quality hunter education online, but limited participation in the course to first-time hunters who were at least 17. On Sept. 1, the agency lowered the minimum age to 14.
“The concept of obtaining a license for first-time hunters by foregoing the traditional two-day or three-day course recognizes the time constraints of today’s world,” said Executive Director Carl G. Roe. “Distance learning meets the need of today’s changing world by accommodating busy lifestyles, and many young people are already demonstrating that they are able to learn course materials online.”
Registration is available online at the Game Commission’s Web site, www.pgc.state.pa.us; click on the “Hunter Education Classes” icon in the center of the homepage. Once registered, the student is given the option of studying course material online or requesting a copy of a printed manual.
Students who complete the home-study portion of the course will spend time with a district wildlife conservation officer to learn about the Game and Wildlife Code, hunting ethics and landowner relations. They then take the certification test.
Cumberland County
After some brief discussion, the commissioners decided to table approval of a contract with Government Software Services, Inc., to purchase software for tax assessment, tax administration, per capita/occupation tax, tax collector and tax claims.
The contract would be for three years at $3,550 per month, or $42,600 per year, plus an initial set-up fee of $1,125.
Commissioner Barb Cross said she wanted to wait for the review of analysis presented to the board last month from the county tax collectors, who are opposed to the plan. The tax collector piece is just one part of the overall software integration, according to Jerry Wilkes, the county’s information technology director.
The commissioners were presented a proposal that would pay county tax collectors on a flat rate or per bill basis starting in 2010, which could see their compensation cut by as much as 30 percent.
The proposal would centralize bill printing and mailing by the county using a single vendor, as a result of a competitive bid, which would save the county money. It would also save tax collectors substantial time and effort by not having to touch bills until they are paid by taxpayers, Wilkes said.
If approved, it would reduce the collection cost to a flat rate of 85 cents per bill collected, as a reflection of the reduction in work performed. The average cost of bill collection in Cumberland County, according to 2007 data, was $1.06. A decision would need to be made by Feb. 15.
• Bonnie Mahoney, the county’s chief tax assessor, noted that 181 new homes were added to the tax rolls in December. For 2008, 983 homes were added, she said, which is in line with 2007, when 980 homes were added.
• Cross was appointed as the commissioners’ representative on the Army Heritage Center Foundation Board of Directors.
Mechanicsburg
At its first meeting of the year, borough council authorized its solicitor to draft and advertise revisions to the borough’s storm water ordinance.
A new police officer, Justin Myer, was approved to attend the police academy.
Perry County
Carroll Township supervisors have appointed Brenda Beale as tax collector to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Bonnie McAlister.
At its last meeting for 2008, the board of commissioners approved Beale as the tax collector for county taxes, effective 2009.
Jason Scott covers Cumberland County government, Perry County government, Mechanicsburg borough, economic development/industry, tourism, politics and wildlife issues for The Sentinel. You can read his Reporter’s Notebook covering news and events on his beats every Monday. You can contact him at jscott@cumberlink.com.
