Friday’s State of the County address from Delaware County Council was a testament to survival and a vision of what lies ahead.

“We’ve learned what it means to be Delco Strong,” said Council President Brian Zidek.

Council members hit on key topics from the year, including the pandemic, the new health department, government reforms, property reassessment, prison de-privatization and environment and land use.

Some of the highlights:

• About 216,000 county residents, or 50 percent, have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

• The public health department is on track to open in January 2022.

• The county delivered $19 million in federal CARE funds to 1,600 local businesses, saving 5,000 jobs.

• Another $109 million in federal aid is expected this year.

• The hiring process for county employees was revamped to make it more inclusive.

• A diversity/inclusion officer was hired. County purchasing contracts now include a focus on minority and women-owned businesses.

• The county is investing $10 million in grants to maintain parks, green spaces, and trails. A new sustainability officer keeps an eye on environmental impact and green space considerations in economic development proposals.

• Election reforms to cover mail-in voting were accelerated for the 2020 General Election.  Forty of 41 drop boxes from that election will remain in place.

• The county underwent a court-ordered property reassessment to correct property values that hadn’t been updated in 20 years. 

• In light of the civil protests this past summer, a Task Force on Criminal Justice Reform has been created.

• Council started a process to de-privatize the George H. Hill Correctional Facility with an emphasis on rehabilitation for the incarcerated, particularly those serving sentences for low-level drug convictions.

“The county is going through immense and historic change. Changes we are implementing are designed to improve life in Delaware County,” he said.

Find out more at the Daily Times about the state of the county.