LEWISTOWN - A project designed to save Mifflin County's municipalities money by converting their traffic signals to LED technology has been completed, according to information presented at Thursday's business meeting of the Mifflin County Commissioners.

Megan Epler, energy reduction specialist for the SEDA Council of Governments was on hand at the meeting to present a final report on the project, which began in late 2007 and was just recently completed.

"First and foremost, I'm here to thank you for your involvement in the LED project," Epler said. "And I'm happy to report that all of the county's traffic signals have been converted to LED."

Epler said municipalities are already seeing significant cost reductions as a result of the changeover. She also said the project itself received a boost when a 25 percent discount for equipment was negotiated through the SEDA-COG bulk purchase program.

Epler added that 34 traffic signals in Mifflin County have been converted, with a breakdown as follows: Lewistown Borough, 13; Mount Union Borough, 5; Granville Township, 5; Brown Township, 4; Derry Township, 4; Burnham Borough, 2; and Armagh Township, 1.

Epler said Mifflin County was the first in the SEDA-COG service area to sign on to the program.

"This project has been a huge success," she noted. "We couldn't have done it without the help of Mifflin County."

Following Epler's report, Commissioner Otis Riden commented, "I would like to commend you for your efforts in this. With your help, this is a pretty successful project in Mifflin County. Everyone participating has seen significant savings as a result of this. It's been very successful."

In other action on Thursday, the commissioners adopted a proclamation honoring Ruth Dunmire and Pam Brumbaugh, owners/publishers of Common Ground Magazine, for bringing "two decades of passionate dedication to Mifflin County with their amazingly unique publication focusing exclusively on the Juniata River Valley."

The magazine, celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2009, began by focusing on the river, which became the reason for early settlement of the county and to this day, serves as a primary source of recreation and farmland nurturer, the proclamation stated.

Following the proclamation signing, Riden noted, "I commend you. Whether you realize it or not, Common Ground contributes greatly to tourism and the history of Mifflin County. Your magazine is getting that word out to the public and I think it's great."

In other business, the commissioners:

Approved a request from Mifco Tax Services Inc. for exoneration of the county's portion of per capita taxes for the years 2002 through 2008 totaling $401.50.

Approved a renewal agreement with LexisNexis of Albany, N.Y. to keep the Mifflin County Correctional Facility Law Library updated for the period of Aug. 1, 2009 through July 31, 2010 at a cost of $6,356. The commissioners said this is an annual renewal of a program that is mandated by the state Department of Corrections. That mandate says counties must provide inmates with access to legal resources. The above named company was selected several years ago because it was a little more cost efficient, the commissioners added.

Approved the hiring of Justin C. Dobson to fill a vacant probation officer position.

Approved the hiring of Erin Searer to fill a vacant law clerk position.

Approved a purchase of service agreement between Children & Youth and Chuck Dicken to coordinate the Community Watch Program for the period of Sept. 1, 2009 through Aug. 31, 2010. Wages for the position will be $15 an hour plus gas mileage reimbursement, not to exceed $10,500, and will be paid for through a Communities That Care Drug Free Grant.

Approved a funding administration agreement between the Mifflin County Planning and Development Department and Granville Township to research and apply for a grant opportunity for the construction of a new regional septage receiving facility.

Approved a funding agreement between the Mifflin County Planning and Development Department and Granville Township to arrange the assumption of production costs and temporary management of the township's existing vermicomposting process until a final production site is constructed. It was explained that an outside company is planning to come in and move the facility to Derry Township. That company will assume all costs of new construction, it was reported.