Resident asks commissioners about Tyrone property; America 250 chair previews county semiquincentennial

During the public-comment period at the May 14 Blair County Board of Commissioners meeting, resident Peter Gardella asked Commissioner David Kesseling about the status of the garden shop property next to the district magistrate's office in Tyrone and whether the Tyrone Food Bank might be able to use a one-floor space.

Gardella said he had emailed the commissioner multiple times and asked for an update. Chair (S1) responded that the county had decided to take the property back, that the tenant had been given months' notice and an extension to remove belongings, and that the county currently has no firm plans. "We don't have plans for that building right now," the chair said, adding the county is working with maintenance and other departments to determine whether Children and Youth, adult or juvenile probation, or an expanded magistrate's office would be the best long-term use.

A.C. Stickel (controller and chairman of the America 250 PA Blair County Commission) used public comment to outline the county's semiquincentennial plans for July 4, 2026, including a large concert on June 20 and distribution of activity books for students. Stickel said the commission has been organizing events for four years and offered activity books to commissioners to distribute, noting the commission had 30,000 printed for county students and residents.

These remarks occurred during the public-comment portion of the agenda; no formal action on the Tyrone property was taken during the meeting.