In January of this year, my hopes for Lycoming County in 2020 was that it could be the Year of the Volunteer. I wanted to highlight volunteer fire companies and non-profit organizations’ efforts and how they needed new blood to stay alive. I hoped that with the experience of County Commissioners Tony Mussare and Rick Mirabito fueled with the leadership of newly elected Commissioner Scott Metzger, the Strategic Plan developed in the previous year could begin to be implemented and address many of the pressing needs of the county. January and February were hopeful months as the new board appeared to be strategically visionary as well as tactically practical facing the county’s challenges. By all appearances, it looked like it was going to be a great year.

But lurking behind the scenes was a global virus that had a variety of names to identify it. Still, it became all too real for us in Lycoming County when on Friday the 13th of March, Governor Wolf mandated a two-week shutdown of all enterprises in the state. It had an immediate impact as the West Branch Susquehanna Builders Show was scheduled for that weekend. I heard the owner of a small home improvement company lament that his company would lose 25 percent of their annual business because of the show’s cancellation. It was a foretaste of much more suffering that was to come.

Of course, the two weeks stretched into two months, and then it was on the road to nowhere. Schools, restaurants, stores, factories, churches — nothing was immune to disruption. Even many of those in the Reserves and National Guard did their weekend duty “virtually.” Many asked if all these measures were really justified. Why did this omniscient ‘science’ that was always quoted as the justification for the various restrictions keep changing its mind about the spread of the virus? Through the year, trust mixed with uncertainty made stress the daily diet, and that was even BEFORE one of the most controversial presidential elections in American history.

Given all the chaos throughout the year, it is astounding how much was accomplished. The new DA, Ryan Gardner, did not let COVID stop him in coordinating a massive crackdown on the drug trade with a simultaneous raid at multiple locations in the city of Williamsport. The ongoing swipes at County Commissioners Meetings at the Williamsport/Lycoming County Chamber of Commerce in past years were laid aside in an amazing cooperative effort that brought extremely needed financial relief to several hundred small businesses in the county. And perhaps the commissioners’ biggest accomplishment was pulling a rabbit out of their hat in producing a budget for the next year that did not curtail services and did not contain a tax increase.

These and other actions stood out, but behind the scenes were county employees who helped keep county government running effectively, and in particular, three individuals whose sacrifice was especially commendable. Matt McDermott serves as the county’s director of administration and chief clerk who was a former Army officer who has seen combat action, which might account for the fact he was at his desk every day unintimidated by the virus. His commitment was a valuable and reassuring stabilizing presence.

Right across the hall from him was Eileen Ebner, the Administration Manager for the County Commissioners. Eileen was the true ‘first responder’ as many, many people contacted the county for help, advice, and direction. She also was at her post daily, keeping the ship moving forward. And Mya Toon, Lycoming County’s Chief Procurement Officer, was another indispensable public servant during 2020. She is on the front line for everything the county buys and sells. She also never missed a bit during the COVID crisis because, without her, business really would have stopped.

In future columns, departments such as Public Safety, Voter Services, the Sheriff’s Office, and others will also be highlighted for their ‘above and beyond’ efforts through this year. The Bible states, “If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, each one’s work will become obvious. For the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work.” (1 Corinthians 3:12-13) The year 2020 has revealed some true gold in county government.