EMPORIUM — Emporium Borough officials continue to deal with blighted properties and beautifying the downtown area.
Progress to repair four buildings whose owner was recently fined for the structures’ unsafe, deteriorating and unsightly conditions is ongoing, albeit slowly. The four buildings owned by Matthew Grimone, who was issued several thousand dollars in fines following a hearing last month, are still being dealt with, but other structures have come into the borough’s sights, as well.
A number of letters went out to property owners whose structures have become public health and safety hazards. Currently, the owners are in the grace period given for identified issues to be addressed before their cases proceed to the magisterial district judge.
Police Chief Dave Merritt stated that, if the issues are remedied, fines will not be issued. However, council members said the borough is ready to proceed to court, if need be. Investigations will again be opened into a rental unit on West Sixth Street that was the focus of earlier court proceedings as residents continue to complain about the unsightliness of the building.
As for the structures owned by Grimone, it appears as though some work has been completed. The porch has been torn from the front of the building on East Fourth Street, but an overfilled roll-off Dumpster has been sitting in the yard since the work was completed. Plywood now covers the front entryway.
Merritt said further action is being considered. Following last month’s court proceedings, Grimone was given an additional period to make repairs. That period is nearing its end. If it does not appear that work is progressing, he can be issued two citations per property, per day, until the issues are remedied.
In other news, members of the Cameron County ATV/UTV Association attended the meeting to request support from the borough for a portion of a 23-mile trail proposed to connect communities in southern Cameron County to those in the northern portion.
The association’s requests have been forwarded to the streets’ committee for contemplation. The association is looking to bring trail users into Emporium where they can access gasoline, food and other downtown amenities.
In other areas, trail systems developed for all-terrain vehicle use have brought in visitors and tourism revenue, and the association is working with other communities who already allow ATV use to ensure problems and concerns are addressed in a constructive manner.
Council president Luann Reed said she was impressed with the research completed and the organization that group had displayed. A recommendation is expected to be ready from the streets committee for the March borough council meeting.
Meanwhile, borough representatives will look into complaints lodged via a letter sent from a concerned resident. The letter requests an order for trucks not to use their jake brakes on the east end, and information to be gathered on sand left on the railroad tracks from the former sand operation.
Reed said the borough manager would contact the state Department of Environmental Protection or appropriate agency to determine what can be done about the abandoned silicate-sand piles. The jake brake ordinance and other issues are being reviewed by the streets committee for fact-finding a recommendation.
A resolution was approved unanimously. Borough council will officially take ownership of the former Jasper Harris lot on East Fourth Street. The Cameron County Commissioners approved the move, calling it a continuation of inter-governmental cooperation between the county and municipalities. The borough has maintenance crews and equipment to better care for the lot until it can be repurposed after a waiting period required through the use of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for its demolition.
Council also approved a move to send a formal request to the county to purchase a lot on the corner of Hickory Street and East Allegany Avenue. Similar to the above exchange, the borough will take possession of the lot and maintain it. The home that used to stand on the lot was also removed using CDBG funds.
The next borough council meeting will be held at 7 p.m. March 6 at the Emporium Borough Building on North Broad Street.
