In her first report as NorCo's new Executive, Tara Zrinski provided NorCo's new County Council with an exhaustive report about just what is going on. Instead of pious platitudes, she hammered away with fact after fact about just what the county is doing. Here's a summary.
Administration
Election preparations are underway for this year's midterms.
Letters are going out to permanent mail‑in voters to confirm their preferences. (People like me, who prefers to vote by mail, will get one.)
Precinct redistricting in progress, with expansions in high‑growth areas and consolidations in low‑population boroughs. (Lower Nazareth will be expanding.
Nomination Petitions for the 2026 primary can circulate on February 17.
Emergency Management / 911
P25 radio system installation progressing.
Director Todd Weaver is retiring, and the county is looking for a new permanent director.
Risk Management
Monitoring open and pending claims against the county
Completed liability insurance application with County Commr's Ass'n of Pa (CCAP, not to be confused with CCP).
Human Resources
Supports onboarding of new employees as well as benefits, leave and pensions.
Recently conducted testing and interviews for deputy sheriffs, 911 telecom, and corrections officers.
Human Services
Developmental Programs: 20th anniversary event on March 25.
Aging: Outstanding Senior Award ceremony on April 23.
Drug & Alcohol: Narcan trainings scheduled throughout 2026.
Veterans Affairs: Implementing a new suicide‑risk assessment tool in 2026.
Gracedale: Hiring efforts underway; reducing reliance on agency nurses; improved Medicaid reimbursement outlook.
Community & Economic Development
Issuing FY 2026 grants across multiple programs.
Preparing for grant workshops.
Planning for First Day event and county festival.
Advancing affordable housing projects and digital literacy initiatives.
Fiscal Affairs
Closing 2025 books by February.
W‑2s distributed.
2026 tax bills mailed.
Streamlining procurement and reducing P‑card usage.
Corrections
Current population: 470 inmates.
19 correctional officer vacancies; new academy begins Feb. 16.
Passed all state inspection requirements; compliant through 2027.
Facility upgrades ongoing; strong partnership with PrimeCare for addiction treatment.
Public Works
Government Center parking deck demolition planned for summer; 12–18 month rebuild.
Bridge #15 replacement nearly complete; paving to resume in spring.
Parks & Recreation preparing annual report and updating key planning documents.
Facilities preparing for winter storm operations; nurses at Gracedale planning overnight stays.
Court Services
Increase in probate estates and marriage licenses (Valentine’s Day).
Archives retrieved an 1872 document found in an office drawer.
Space constraints across courthouse offices; exploring options but no easy solutions.
Criminal & Civil Divisions
Managing year‑end financials, staffing transitions, and process improvements.
Sheriff’s Office
Continuing security, transport, and licensing duties. Extremely helpful to Zrinski as she toured county offices.
Preparing for collective bargaining negotiations.
Coroner’s Office
High caseload; three autopsies pending.
New optional CT‑scan program for non‑forensic cases being finalized.
16 comments:
Tara please go to criminal, civil and recorder of deeds office and start filling those empty positions. These offices are behind in their work.
You give her a pass on word salad and not Knowing things. Glossing over Gracedale( even her directors were unsure of things) Yet you attack Seigal for the same things. She is as clueless as the new council.
Lol. Tara sold out the COs faster then Lamont did. Our full complaint of officers is 212. Guessing she already has no issues fudging things.
Hey if you can't score a TD just move the goal posts..
As far as Gracedale goes, I see no mention of replacement of management or removal of any incompetent personnel, so I believe it's SNAFU for the foreseeable future.
You go girl.
Add 32 to that shortage of corrections officers. Guessing they just change things to make it look like they are doing better.
To watch her speak is so painful- w/o a script, she's screwed.
She stumbled at the committee meeting on Wednesday, but I thought her detailed presentation on every county department was highly informative, even if it was a little boring. County government should be boring.
She obviously is relying on information supplied by the department heads who work for her in making her report. She's not physically counting you herself. If this information is wrong, please have your union prez notify her so she can determine whether someone is full of shit. I was surprised by her numbers announcement bc I thought you were down around 40. Good luck this weekend with the snow.
8:12, See my comment above.
Very disappointing message from Tara. Not a single mention of good luck for our 24/7 staff, 911 operators who will be flooded with call this weekend, jail staff, juvey staff, the parks who will be out in the snow. only gracedale somethings never change
I wonder how many of the agency staff members will get to work at Gracedale or will be willing to stay overnight to staff it.
I didn't vote for her, and quite frankly, I was convinced she was a wackadoodle. She won though, and you should want her to do well. I'll give her a year, see how she does.
What will agency staff be paid to stay overnight?
Will have to deal with non union workers who have been continuously screwed and making less money than union employees. Equity issues! Maybe more unions will be formed?
You already get paid to do your job. Are you a toddler that you need verbal assurance you’re doing a good job? Grow up.
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