EMPORIUM — One blighted Emporium building has come down, and another is now slated for demolition.
The former Jasper Harris & Son building located on East Fourth Street is officially down, and grading and finishing work will occur over the next several days. Demolition was completed ahead of the June 18 completion date given by Earthworks Unlimited of Kylertown, the construction company tasked with the difficult and time-consuming work.
“It was a very arduous taking down process, but not the worst Earthworks has ever done,” said Cameron County Commissioner Lori Reed, who spoke to members of the construction crew prior to Thursday’s commissioners meeting.
The lot is in the process of being graded and siding will be installed on the exposed side of the H&R Block/Allstate, where Jasper Harris used to be connected to the structure.
A bid for demolition of the former Admit One property, also on Fourth Street about a block east of Jasper Harris, will likely be advertised next month, according to Economic Development Director Cliff Clark.
All three buildings, two storefronts along Fourth Street and an apartment building behind them on East Greenwood Street, will be part of the bid. The three structures are beyond repair, with collapsed roofs that have allowed water in to further damage the buildings. The buildings are beyond unsightly and have become hazardous, and are located in Emporium’s business district.
Clark said the bids will be opened the following month, likely in August, and then permitting and other processes will begin. The buildings will then be taken down per the company’s schedule.
Asbestos was removed from the structures earlier this week, which should help streamline the process for the bid-winning contractor.
In other news, the commissioners announced the upcoming release of Act 13 Impact Fee funds for year 2015. Reed said that checks are expected to be cut by the state next month.
The county expects to receive just under $264,000, with each township receiving a separate amount per a funding formula that determines impact from unconventional wells. Shippen Township will receive the bulk of money coming into Cameron County municipalities, and is slated to receive more than $300,000.
“Next year is going to be considerably lower, and dwindling,” Reed said. “So we have to just save it and be diligent about our expenditures.”
Commissioner Phil Jones recently participated in a conference call to discuss proposed increases to the payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILT) made by the state on parks, forest and game lands.
Jones said the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors is the newest state-wide group seemingly on-board with the State Land Tax Fairness Coalition’s message.
“We’re trying to get more associations’ concrete backing,” said Jones. Currently, only $3.60 per acre is paid on state-held lands, with the township, county and the school district splitting those funds. Two bills in the Legislature look to increase the amount to pump more money into rural areas with dwindling revenue due to vast tracts of state-held lands within their borders.
About 60 percent of Cameron County’s area is owned by the state, leaving a shrinking number of local landowners to pick up the tab for all county, municipal and school district costs.
An editorial written by Potter County Commissioner Paul Heimel, a former journalist and member of the coalition, has made newspapers across Pennsylvania’s southern tier and drawn attention to the plight of rural, northern counties.
“The PILT is something we’re really going to have to get after because we’re losing the Act 13 money,” said Reed.
Also, Chief Clerk Brenda Munz announced the county has created a Commissioners and Elections Facebook page to disseminate information important to residents. A notice has been posted pertaining to surveys being mailed to constituents which appear to be from the county elections office, but are not. More information is available via the Facebook page or by contacting the commissioners’ office.
A number of events are scheduled over the next few weeks in Cameron County.
Sylvan Heritage Council will hold a Cork and Pork event at Andrews’ Farm on Saturday evening. The Art Festival at the Elk Visitors Center in Benezette is also scheduled for this weekend.
The Little League Carnival will be held from Monday through June 25 on Broad Street in Emporium. The Member/Guest Tournament at the country club is scheduled for June 24-26, and the Nam Knights Rich Valley Rumble is June 25.
Weekend in the Wilds will be held July 1-2. The annual fireworks display will begin at 10 p.m. July 2.
The next commissioners meeting will be held on July 7 at the courthouse in Emporium.
