McKean County’s communications will step into the 21st Century soon as Zitomedia builds a fiber optic “loop” through the county and parts of adjoining counties.

County commissioners at their regular meeting Tuesday approved a resolution entering into an agreement with the McKean County Industrial Development Authority  and Zitomedia Communications for construction of  a 79 mile loop of fiber optic  cable running through Kane, Mt. Jewett, Bradford Regional Airport, Lewis Run, Bradford, Smethport, Eldred, and Port Allegany, and connecting with Zitomedia servers in Coudersport.

In a special meeting Wednesday, the IDA agreed to enter into negotiations with North West Savings for a $ 1.16 loan to finance the project.  The optical fiber construction will provide state-of-the-art high speed communication service to Kane, Bradford, the airport and Lewis Run, as well as increased connectivity in Smethport, Eldred and Port Allegany.

County guarantee of the loan is contingent upon Pennsylvania Department of Community Affairs and Development approval.

Chairman of Commissioners Joe DeMott called the agreement to cooperate in the telecommunications system “the most important thing done during our term.”

The system will provide high speed Internet access to governmental, commercial and institutional entities in the beginning and later may be made available to individual private users,

At  the Tuesday  meeting. Commissioners also approved an agreement with James L. Baldwin for professional services to develop a plan to implement recommendations made by the National Center for State Courts to modernize court records.  The project will include scanning and digitalizing records to preserve them on computer discs, as well as preserving those which must be kept on paper.

Cost of the services is listed at under $20,000.   

The board also authorized a $3,500 payment to Northwest Engineering to design a floor support system for the Prothonotary’s office and $2,991.04 to Strouse Business Products for new divider panels in the commissioners office.