The Mountain Council of Governments: A
Synopsis of the Organization
The Mountain Council of Governments is
a voluntary organization of local governments fostering an
intergovernmental cooperative atmosphere for the discussion of common
problems and the formulation of plans to bring about their successful
resolution.
Currently the Mountain Council of
Governments consists of 3 cities, 9 townships, 8 boroughs, 2 school
districts, and 3 authorities and two other adjunct organizations (The
Greater Hazleton Civic Partnership and the Chamber of Commerce.) MCOG
remains financially operable by virtue of a yearly Community
Revitalization Grant from DCED, a stipend from Luzerne County and
generous assistance from the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce.
its day-to-day activities are conducted by a part-time Executive
Director.
The organization participates in joint
projects for the benefit of their members and their members'
constituents. Some of our projects include: a Gateway sign and
beautification project which placed welcome signage at the entrance
to participating municipalities free of charge (financed through a
state grant), a Rails to Trails project undertaken with Civic
Partnership to convert 16 miles of unused rail bed to hiking and
biking trai|s(financed through a variety of grant sources), the joint
purchase of a sewer camera worth $80,000(half of which was covered by
a DCED grant), joint purchase of a tar kettle/crack sealer worth
$50,000(ha|f of which was covered by a DCED grant),a joint abandoned
vehicle and junk car project, a joint UCC code enforcement project,
joint salt bidding(8-10 participants annually), an ongoing regional
police study(4 of the larger members), joint rental of a
multi-purpose street sweeper, a compost facility study; to name just
a few of the more recent endeavors.
Our monthly forum has also led to joint
participation by member organizations in a number of different public
works projects. In these projects the participating municipalities
lend equipment and manpower to a COG member to help in the completion
of a public works endeavor. Members have saved p to 50% of the cost
compared to using an outside contractor. Of course the members
reciprocate when others need their help. Equipment sharing has also
become very common among the membership.
MCOG also invites speakers to address
the group on areas of common interest. Some of the more recent
speakers have dealt with grant writing, energy savings(members were
able to save $125,000 annually by joining an energy pool organized
through the Chamber of Commerce and MCOG), wholesale purchasing of
supplies, GIS mapping, municipal insurance options, municipal
equipment purchase and rental options, to name a few.
MCOG is also an active member of the
PACOG with its President recently served as the President of that
organization from 2009-10.
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