Lancaster County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Lancaster County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
New Lancaster County Correctional Facility design and cost
The county's first public look at how it would pay for the $465 million prison project. Four scenarios range from a single borrowing (cheapest overall but a $25 million one-year budget hit) to phased borrowings stretching payments over eight years. Commissioners will meet advisors one-on-one and return publicly to set priorities before any decision.
Measles death claims and public transparency
Lancaster County has the majority of Pennsylvania's measles cases. Commissioner Yoder urged families to get vaccinated, noting free or low-cost vaccine locations on the state health department website.
Disaster emergency declaration and storm recovery
Last Thursday's storms, including a confirmed tornado, damaged about 54 structures, mostly in Columbia. The county's declaration unlocks recovery resources, and a multi-agency resource center opens Wednesday at the Columbia fire house for anyone affected anywhere in the county.