Carbon County formalized its participation in the newly forming county council of governments.

On Thursday, the county commissioners adopted an ordinance regarding the articles of agreement among the member local governments entering the CCCOG in accordance with the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Law. The ordinance will take effect on May 14.A number of municipalities, Carbon County and state Sen. Yudichak's office have been working together to start the CCCOG as a way to help each other through cost and supply sharing. It also strengthens grant applications and provides a network among the municipalities.According to the public notice published in the Times News on March 26, municipalities that will be looking to adopt the ordinance and participate in the CCCOG are Banks Township, Beaver Meadows, Bowmanstown, East Penn Township, Franklin Township, Kidder Township, Lansford, Lehigh Township, Lehighton, Lower Towamensing, Mahoning Township, Nesquehoning, Palmerton, Parryville, Summit Hill, Weatherly and Weissport.The group will meet at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month in the commissioners' meeting room in the Courthouse Annex in Jim Thorpe.In other matters, the commissioners approved an agreement with Linda Steier of Scott Township to provide professional dietitian services for the Carbon County Area Agency on Aging at a rate of $45 per hour plus mileage. The term of the agreement is from April 1 through March 31, 2017, and will be renewable annually, pending funding availability.Commissioners' Chairman Wayne Nothstein said this is one of the requirements that the county must have in place to guarantee the clients receive a nutritious, well-balanced meal through the agency's meal programs.