COUNTY GOVERNMENT

ADMINISTRATION

     Tax Assessment — The Assessment Office, located on the seventh floor of the courthouse, is responsible for determining the valuation of all real property in the county on which property taxes are levied for county, municipal, and school tax purposes. Each year assessment rolls are prepared, reflecting changes in assessment due to updates and additions.

     A property owner receiving a change in assessment has a 40-day right of appeal from the mailing date of the assess-

ment notice. In addition, any property owner may file an assessment appeal for the following year on or before August 1st. Appeals are heard by the Board of Assessment Appeals, whose three members are appointed by the county commissioners.

Voter Registration and County Board of Elections —

The three county commissioners comprise the Registration Commission, which is responsible for such matters as selecting registration sites, conducting special registration drives, and preparing street lists.

     Sitting as the County Board of Elections, the commissioners are responsible for the conduct of elections: for acceptance and verification of nominating petitions of local candidates, preparation of ballots and selection of polling places, the advertising of elections, and the official tabulation and certification of election returns.

     The chief registrar, who is chief clerk to the County Board of Elections, carries out many of the duties associated with registration and elections.

Lancaster County-Wide Communications — This service receives 911 calls for Lancaster County and dispatches appropriate response agencies, including police, fire, and emergency medical services. LCWC dispatches all of the public safety agencies within the county, including 40 emergency medical service agencies, 87 fire departments, and 41 police departments.

     To communicate with almost any person in need of emergency services, LCWC has access to multi-lingual translators and can help hearing and speech impaired callers. It also works in cooperation with such state and federal agencies as the Pennsylvania State Police and the FBI.

Lancaster County Emergency Management Agency —

This agency works closely with municipal governments and emergency service organizations to assure planning, training, and response to man-made and natural disasters such as weather incidents, hazardous material releases, or nuclear power plant emergencies. In the aftermath of a disaster, the agency coordinates the use of state and federal disaster aid.

     A new disaster training facility is scheduled for construction in 2002, and will be used for training of all emergency services units in the county. Located with the 911 Center in Manheim, the office is open from 7:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. weekdays. Telephone 1-800-808-5236.

Website: www.emergsvs.co.lancaster.pa.us/LEMA/?dsftns=5694

     Emergency Medical Services Council — This office provides coordination among 40 emergency service organizations and offers public education and information regarding medical emergencies.

     Local Emergency Planning Committee — Mandated by the federal Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act, this committee is responsible for the planning and response coordination when hazardous materials are involved.

     Personnel Department — This department accepts and processes all job applications for posted county positions. It is also responsible for the education and training of employees, assisting the commissioners in the development and administration of policies and procedures, and the administration of employee personnel/benefit records and programs. Telephone: 299-8310. County job opportunities are listed on a voice bulletin board at 291-8888, Code 9515, or at the web-site: www.co.lancaster.pa.us

     Purchasing Department — This office makes all county purchases, with public bids required for goods or services costing more than $10,000.

     Veterans Affairs —The Director of Veterans’ Affairs counsels and assists veterans, active duty personnel, their dependents and survivors in obtaining federal, state, and local benefits. Such benefits include compensation; pension; burial; headstones and markers; education and vocational rehabilitation; home loan guarantee eligibility; special/disabled license plates; property tax exemption; transportation to/from VA Medical Center in Lebanon. Telephone: 299-7920; Fax: 209-3077; E-mail: hoogerj@co.lancaster.pa.us

     Human Relations Commission — The commission processes complaints of discrimination and works to ensure that all persons receive the rights guaranteed them by law.

     Along with a 13-member Board of Directors appointed for three-year terms and numerous volunteers, the Commission assists the community to understand illegal discrimination and its consequences through conferences, workshops, and informational brochures. The panel of seven enforcement commissioners is empowered to issue orders if illegal discrimination is found and not voluntarily resolved. The office, located at 225 West King Street, is open from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. weekdays. Telephone: 299-7840.

Website: www.co.lancaster.pa.us

County Engineer — Specific responsibilities of this office include: property management and building-system maintenance; building construction; county bridge maintenance, county-wide storm water management reviews and management plan implementation.

     Also under the County Engineer are the certification of all pumps and scales by the Sealer of Weights and Measures and microfilm and printing departments which provide in-house services for other county government departments

     Data Processing & Training Center — All computer-related services are provided by this office, and new computing technologies are introduced from here. The department, located at 900 East King Street, has 38 employees. Current projects include the design and development of a criminal justice integration program, the design of a program for filing of court documents, and work to enhance the county website to provide more county services and information. Telephone: 299-8252; Website: Whiteman@co.lancaster.pa.us

     Geographic Information Systems (GIS) — This office, whose director is appointed by the county commissioners, maintains a computer system and a large database of digital mapping based upon aerial photography covering the entire county.

     The maps show such features as topography, land-use, watercourses, municipal boundaries, roads, bridges, and buildings. The service is used by the Planning Commission, assessment office, county engineers, and emergency communications, as well as commercial and nonprofit organizations. Telephone: 391-7550; Website (which offers a tax parcel viewer): www.co.lancaster.pa.us/GIS.htm

     Lancaster County Planning Commission — Created by the county commissioners in 1958, the commission’s nine members are appointed by the county commissioners for staggered four-year terms. The staff consists of an executive director, four section heads, eighteen professional planners, four technicians, and eight secretaries.

     Major sources of funding are the county general fund, federal and state grants, and fees for the review of subdivision and land development plans.

     Charged by the county commissioners to develop a Comprehensive Plan for the county, the planning commission developed a plan that was adopted in 1993, making this agency the only one that focuses on change affecting the whole county. It encourages innovation and quality in planning and provides leadership that enables regional issues to be discussed and resolved.

     Among its many other responsibilities are the following: it administers the Lancaster County Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance; reviews and makes recommendations on municipal comprehensive plans and zoning ordinances; prepares model codes and ordinances; prepares environmental studies and inventories; facilitates planning for moving people and goods safely and efficiently; provides park and open space planning and acquisition; and encourages removal of barriers to the construction of safe and affordable housing.

     Department of Parks and Recreation — This department manages over 2,000 acres of regional parkland, including Buchmiller, Central, Chickies Rock, Money Rocks, and Speedwell Forge County Parks, Conewago and Lancaster Junction recreation trails, and the Parker Natural Area in the Octoraro Creek watershed.

     Other noteworthy facilities include an environmental center and library, the Garden of Five Senses, the Lancaster County Skate Park, and Mill Creek campground in Central Park, and the Chickies Rock and Money Rock overlooks.

     The department’s newly renovated office is located at 1050 Rockford Road and is open from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. weekdays and (April 15-July 31) 8:30 a.m. until noon on Saturdays. Telephone: 299-8215; Fax 295-5942; Website: www.co.lancaster.pa.us/lanco/cwp/view.asp?a=3&Q=394152&lancoNav=|5342|5545|5606|&dsftns=5782

     Children and Youth Social Service Agency — This agency provides a full range of child welfare services to dependent, abused, and neglected children and youth, birth through 18 years of age, and to their families.

     Services include child abuse and neglect investigation, ongoing protective services for children at home, parent training and education, foster care, adoption of foster children, and information and referral. An advisory board of 15 is appointed by the county commissioners.

     Recently the agency has been developing a new child sexual abuse investigation unit, assessing the development of a community site in the eastern part of the county, and developing a pilot program for delinquency prevention. The main office is at 900 East King Street. Telephone: 299-7925; Fax 299-7929; Website: www.co.lancaster.pa.us/lanco/cwp/view.asp?a=373&Q=389168&lancoNavDLTEST=|5342|5660|. In case of an emergency, the Medical Bureau at 396-8085 can contact an emergency caseworker.

     Office of Aging — Initially required by Title III of the federal Older Americans Act, this office was established in 1974 to develop comprehensive social services which permit older persons to receive the care they need while maintaining maximum independence and dignity.

     Programs are funded by the federal, state (including state lottery monies), and county governments. The commissioners appoint a 19-member advisory council. The main office, with weekday hours of 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., is located at 50

North Duke Street. Telephone: 299-7979 or 1-800-801-3070, with 24-hour on-call service available for emergencies. Website: www.co.lancaster.pa.us; E-mail: aging@co.lancast-er.pa.us

     Drug and Alcohol Commission — This office is the government agency that provides prevention/education programs in the schools and community and helps pay for drug and alcohol treatment for those residents who do not have insurance or the ability to pay. In 2001, the commission began participation in the management of providing drug and alcohol treatment for Medicaid clients. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Website: www.co.lancaster.pa.us/lanco/cwp/view.asp?a=530&Q=379613&lancoNav=|5342|5660|5667|

     Mental Health & Mental Retardation Program — Tax-funded and mandated by state and federal laws, this agency provides services to persons with mental illness and mental retardation and to children below the age of three with developmental disabilities. It provides case management and crisis intervention, and contracts for a range of services including vocational and social rehabilitation, early intervention, family support, and residential, inpatient, and outpatient care. This office is located at 29 E. King St., Suite 402, and is open 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Telephones: administration 299-8021; case management 393-0421; crisis intervention (24-hour service) 394-2631; and early intervention services 399-7323. Website: www.co.lancaster.pa.us/lanco/cwp/view.asp?a=1&Q=389371&lancoNav=|5342|5660|

Lancaster Employment & Training Agency (LETA) —

Federally funded through the Job Training and Partnership Act, LETA assists employers and job seekers to meet their employment needs. Services for job seekers include skills assessment and aptitude testing, job search assistance, and in some cases vocational training. LETA also assists employers by job matching and recruitment. Located at Liberty Place on the corner of Charlotte and West Liberty Streets, LETA is one of 13 community and educational organizations comprising the CareerLink, a comprehensive employment and training center. Telephone: 291-1231; Fax 295-9846; E-mail: Voight@co.lancaster.pa.us

     Conestoga View (County Home and Hospital) — The origins of Conestoga View are found in a state law of 1797, at which time approval was granted to erect an alms house in Lancaster County for the care of its indigent people. The present facility, built in 1969, has a total bed capacity of 454, and offers skilled and intermediate nursing care to residents, including an alzheimers/dementia unit. It provides specialty care in such areas as physical, occupational, and speech therapy, offers dialysis, ventilator, and respiratory services, and provides routine medical transportation services. Recent improvements to the facility include a sun-filled multipurpose room and entertainment room and two additional elevators.

     Public Defender — Required by state law, the public defender’s office is responsible for providing legal representation to any eligible indigent person without counsel and charged with an offense that could lead to imprisonment or detention.

     Controller — This office is the official watchdog of the county. It oversees the disbursement of all county monies, including payroll, retirement, and regular accounts payable; maintains the primary financial records; prepares financial reports, including the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report;audits the records of other departments; and assists the commissioners in preparing the annual budget. The office also maintains the financial accounting computer system to record and report financial information. The controller, an elected official whose 2002 salary is $61,504, is a member and serves as secretary of the salary, retirement, and prison boards, and is also a member of the Barnes Hall board.

     Treasurer — This office oversees receipt of all county monies: fines, costs, restitutions, support payments, and state and federal grants. It issues licenses (game, fish, dog) and permits. The treasurer, an elected official, will be paid $61,504 in 2002. By statute, the treasurer serves on both the County Employees’ Retirement Board and the County Records Improvement Committee.