Announcements

Warren County Commissioner Web-conference Meeting

Today, Wednesday, March 25th at 5:30 pm, the Warren County Commissioners will be conducting their regularly scheduled public meeting via a gotomeeting.com web-conference. This is being done to encourage social distancing and prevent the spread of COVID-19. The public, press, and other interested individuals and organizations are welcome to join the call as quests, similar to a regular Commissioners meeting. Due to the nature of web conferencing, we will be working to maintain decorum and ask that everyone attending virtually be respectful of everyone’s time and keep any comments brief and relevant to the agenda. Download the agenda by clicking here. Very little time will be spent discussing anything COVID-19, so please do not attend the meeting in search of a larger update. The meeting will start promptly at 5:30 pm and be chaired by Commissioner Kafferlin and will be closed upon completion of the Commissioners’ agenda.

If you have coronavirus questions, please contact the COVID-19 hotline at the Warren County Department of Public Safety at 814-563-3598.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

Meeting Time: 5:30 PM

Agenda: Click here to download.

Login to meeting online at: https://www.gotomeet.me/warrencopa

The County has received the following information regarding waivers for businesses that feel they are life-sustaining or vital and should stay open during the Governor’s shutdown order. Please contact the state for more information regarding these waivers and any other questions related to the shutdown. 

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As a follow-up to yesterday’s business shutdown announcement from the governor, any business that believes it should be considered a life-sustaining-business, would like to seek a waiver and wants information on the process, can email RA-dcexemption@pa.gov Any business with questions about whether they need to close, can contact the administration at ra-dcedcs@pa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

County Government Shutdown of Nonessential Services

Wednesday, March 18 | Warren, Pa.— Starting Thursday, March 19th at 8:30 am and continuing until Monday, March 30th at 8:30 am, all nonessential operations of the County Government will be put on hold and the majority of County workers will be on leave or working from home, with some directors and essential personnel still working. This does not include Court Related offices which are essential and will be functioning.

Departments Which will be closed according to the dates and times listed above include:

• Tax Claim Department – (814) 728-3415
• Elections Department – (814) 728-3406
• Veterans Affairs Department – (814) 728-3478
• Planning and Zoning Department – (814) 728-3512
• Treasurer’s Department – (814) 728-3416
• Finance & Human Resources Department – (814) 728-3408
• Register and Recorder – (814) 728-3432
• Assessment Department – (814) 728-3420

The Register and Recorder’s office will be available for deed transfers, but all transfers must be made via appointment. Please call (814-728-3432) the Register and Recorder for appointments. The Jail and 911 will remain open as essential functions, although all visitation to the Jail has been halted.

Forest/Warren Human Services and Warren County Children and Youth will close all nonessential functions. Most employees will be working remotely to ensure the health and safety of families. Administration, including directors and supervisors, will be working in the office intermittently. Each department will be following the mandates of their respective offices. The main office number will continue to be answered during normal business hours.

The President Judge of the 37th Judicial District of Pennsylvania has issued a Declaration of Judicial Emergency effective March 19 through April 14, 2020. All Court operations are limited to essential functions only at this time and all Court offices will be open for urgent business only.   Any necessary business should be sent by mail, fax or email to respective offices. We continue to serve the needs of the citizens of the 37th Judicial District but need to limit access for public health and safety for all.  Court related offices, including the Prothonotary, Clerk of Courts, Courts, Magisterial District Courts, Domestic Relations, Adult Probation, and Juvenile Probation will remain open.

These measures are being taken to ensure the safety of our staff and to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Warren County. Regular updates on the County’s Coronavirus response will continue from the Commissioner’s Office and Warren County Public Safety during this temporary and partial shutdown.

Questions or concerns for the JIC can be directed to the COVID-19 hotline at the Warren County Department of Public Safety at 814-563-3598.  The public is also encouraged to visit the CDC www.cdc.gov and PA Department of Health www.health.pa.gov websites.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Warren County, Pennsylvania Emergency Disaster Declaration

Tuesday, March 17 | Warren, Pa.— The Commissioners of Warren County have declared a state of disaster emergency, invoking section 7501 of the emergency management services code as a part of our overall efforts to prevent the spread of Coronavirus COVID-19. The United States of America and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and over a dozen Pennsylvania counties, have already declared an emergency disaster in an effort to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus, COVID-19. This declaration has been delayed in Warren County, as there have not been any confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Warren County.

Nevertheless, the Commissioners want the constituents of Warren County to know that we are taking the threat of coronavirus seriously and have taken and are taking appropriate precautions. We are not aware of Warren County ever invoking a full state of emergency, but in this case it is appropriate. It is a cautious and deliberate move that the Emergency Management Agency advises us to do. We believe if we act now, it gives us more time, tools and personnel to reduce the impact of the virus and promote the health, safety and welfare of all residents of Warren County, which is a central purpose of our local government.

A state of emergency is not a state of panic. We are prepared. The County has developed plans, updated those plans, and we train for situations just like this. This declaration is largely being done for administrative reasons, to vest more authority in our Director of Public Safety to draw down state and federal resources and staff the Emergency Operations Center. It also allows us to acquire equipment and personnel quickly, without going through bidding processes, as it relates to COVID-19. This is a measured, proactive response, guided by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Center for Disease Control. We are coordinating with these agencies to engage the public.

The Director of Public Safety will be opening the Warren County Emergency Operations Center, which will be the single, county-wide resources to coordinate our response, having representatives from law enforcement, transportation, emergency medical services, the hospital, business & industry, and many more. Finally, the EOC will have a Public Information Officer as the single-point-of-contact for the incident.

Please monitor Warren County’s website for up-to-date information. Questions and concerns can be directed to the COVID-19 hotline at 814-563-3598. For more information about COVID-19 and how to personally combat the virus, please visit the CDC and Pennsylvania Department of Health websites.

We, the Commissioners of Warren County, want to take a moment to thank those on the front lines of this pandemic, and further ask that you lift up your local government leaders, emergency responders, medical staff and elderly in prayer.

Non-essential Businesses Info

Governor Wolf has requested the closing of “non-essential businesses” for the next two weeks. Below is an excerpt from a recent news release going over the definitions of “essential” and “non-essential” businesses. Any questions should be directed to the COVID-19 hotline: 814-563-3598.

Non-essential businesses include public-facing industries such as entertainment, hospitality, and recreation facilities, including but not limited to community and recreation centers; gyms, including yoga, barre and spin facilities; hair salons and barber shops, nail salons and spas; casinos; concert venues; theaters; sporting event venues and golf courses; retail facilities, including shopping malls except for pharmacy or other health care facilities within retail operations. 

Further, the Governor has ordered that all restaurants and bars close their dine-in facilities to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Businesses that offer carry-out, delivery, and drive-through food and beverage service may continue to do so, but eating and drinking inside restaurants and bars is temporarily prohibited. These businesses offering carry-out, delivery, and drive-through food and beverage should employ social distancing best practices and be aware of the Trump Administration’s guidance to avoid gatherings of 10 or more people. 

Essential services and sectors include but are not limited to food processing, agriculture, industrial manufacturing, feed mills, construction, trash collection, grocery and household goods (including convenience stores), home repair/hardware and auto repair, pharmacy and other medical facilities, biomedical and healthcare, post offices and shipping outlets, insurance, banks, gas stations, laundromats, veterinary clinics and pet stores, warehousing, storage, and distribution, public transportation, and hotel and commercial lodging.

Although these businesses may remain open, the Wolf Administration continues to encourage them to employ social distancing practices, and encourages Pennsylvanians to be thoughtful in their visits. 

Other businesses, including but not limited to legal services, business and management consulting, professional services and insurance services are encouraged to have employees work remotely or telecommute. If that is not possible, they should employ social distancing best practices and be aware of the Trump Administration’s guidance to avoid gatherings of 10 or more people. 

If you have questions, please contact the COVID-19 hotline at the Warren County Department of Public Safety at 814-563-3598.

Pistol Permit applications nor processing will be done for the next seven working days. This is effective immediately.