The Monroe County commissioners accepted the 2026 Water Quality Study completed in partnership with the county’s Conservation District and Planning Commission and received a brief update on the county’s waterways.

Julia Sherer, a senior environmental planner with the Planning Commission, said during the commissioners meeting on Wednesday that the annual water quality study was conducted April 20 to 30.

“We sampled 37 sites,” Sherer said. “We did two replicates, and out of those we only had one that scored below the attainment threshold, which was Tunkhannock Creek. Our plan is to sample it again next year to get a baseline of what’s going on.”

Replicates mean that they repeated the testing exactly in two locations to check for accuracy of the result.

Sherer didn’t go into further detail, but according to the 2026 Water Quality Study the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection developed a multitiered flowchart to assess the aquatic life use attainment benchmarks.

In other water-related issues, the commissioners approved Amendment No. 9 to the consulting agreement with KRB Consulting Services LLC. The work is for water and wastewater projects at the county-owned facilities in Snydersville at a rate of $180 per hour from Jan. 1, 2027 to Dec. 31, 2027.

The commissioners also accepted a proposal from BSI Electrical Electronic Contractors to provide electrical work for installation of water storage tank replacement at Manor Drive, Snydersville. The cost is $93,870.

Other matters

In other business, the commissioners approved the following items in the various county departments:

• Area Agency on Aging — Execute lease agreement with Pocono Services for Families and Children: $1,300 per month from Jan. 1, 2027, to Dec. 31, 2027; Jan. 1, 2028, to Dec. 31, 2028, at the previous year cost plus 3% cost-of-living adjustment; and Jan. 1, 2029, to Dec. 31, 2029, at the previous year cost plus 3% COLA increase; and Senior Center volunteers to read to the Pocono Services for Families and Children Head Start class two times per month in the library for the three-year lease period.

• Conservation District — Reappoint to the district board of directors: Robert Armstrong, public director, new term to end Dec. 31, 2030; Brian Winot, public director, new term to end Dec. 31, 2030; and Sharon S. Laverdure, commissioners representative, new term to end Dec. 31, 2027.

• District Attorney — Execute 60-month lease with Enterprise Fleet Management for 2027 Ford police interceptor utility vehicle, $1,130.50 per month to replace an unrepairable vehicle.

• Fiscal/Grants — Submit the Mosquito-borne Disease Control Grant application to maintain acceptable and healthy mosquito population control throughout Monroe, Pike and Wayne counties, Jan. 1, 2027 through Dec. 31, 2027, $148,131; sign the 2026-27 Intermediate Punishment contract, July 1, to June 30, 2027, $90,000.

• Information and Technology Services — Ratify amendment for second extension to the Case Management Software System Agreement dated Oct. 26, 2017, to Dec. 31.

• Redevelopment Authority — Reappoint Nicole Murray to the board of directors, new term to expire Oct. 21, 2031.