SMETHPORT — The McKean County Commissioners approved a resolution Tuesday authorizing the Tax Claim Bureau to recapture more than $20,000 in 2018 county taxes from three properties where the owners were not in compliance with Keystone Opportunity Zone requirements.
In Pennsylvania, KOZs are economic development strategies that eliminate certain state and local taxes in specific underdeveloped and undeveloped areas and municipalities.
No applications were received from WMP Eldred LLC, which owes $18,474.08; and SRH, and SRH development, which owes $202.28. Additionally, Ravyn and Robyn Pa Holding LLC will be billed for $1,359.23 for not being in compliance.
In another financial matter, commissioners also accepted offers for purchasing properties from the McKean County repository for unsold property. The successful bidders and their offers were as follows: Tantum McNamara, $1,100; Linda Allen, $1,000; Bryan Taylor and Jaime Sweet-Taylor, two properties each at $250; Bradford Sanitary Authority, $250; Patrick Giordano, $250; Linda Allen, $250; Mary and Rick Isadore, $50; Mark Bisker, $250. Michael Monroe, $300.00; James Caskey, $51.01; William Leffler, $250; Daniel Hartle, $1,250.
Real estate tax refunds were also approved for two parcels where the assessed owners requested refunds for overpayments. Due to errors in assessments, Shirley Hanson Larson will receive $192.58 and Land Management Systems will receive $98.69 in total for the years 2015 to 19..
Commissioners approved three contract renewals for county services. For an annual $7,000 fee in the three-year contract — an increase of $200 — Maximus Consulting Services of Richmond, Va. will be responsible for maintaining the county’s annual cost allocation plan, which identifies the various costs incurred as it supports and administers federal programs. A second agreement is with the County of Erie for part-time pathologist services for a $5,000 retainer fee.
With the third renewal agreement, the county will contract with North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission for proving professional geographic information system support to Project Partners in continuation of the Regional GIS Initiative. The commission, according to the contract, is to provide GIS maintenance and assistance in a timely manner.
County officials will sign a letter of agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture for an addendum to the Program Management Agreement for the Emergency Food Assistance Program, a three-year agreement that remains in effect through Sept. 31, 2021. This letter is to clarify the Program Management Agreement.
Commissioners adopted two proclamations. Commissioner Cliff Lane, who conducted the meeting, read the proclamation designating April as Pennsylvania 811 Safe Digging Month. This designation encourages all excavators and homeowners of McKean County to dial 8-1-1 or 1-800-242-1776 at least three business days before digging.
Commissioner Carol Duffy read the proclamation designating March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. As stated in the proclamation, McKean County residents with intellectual disabilities are from all racial, ethnic, educational, social and economic backgrounds. With early interventions, educational and home- and community-based services in the county continue to be vital to enabling our citizens with a developmental disability to function and thrive.
Attending this meeting was Karen Abbott, program specialist with the McKean County Department of Human Services, who accompanied clients of Evergreen Elm and Futures. Brittany Bailey and Kelly Jackson represented Futures, while Anthony Clancy and Renee Chittester, residents of Evergreen Elm, are employed at Futures. This group thanked the commissioners for approving this proclamation.
In personnel matters, Suzy Meyer-Paige was appointed to the McKean County Department of Human Services advisory board for three years. Stacy Williams and Ken Coffman were reappointed to this board for two-year terms.
The county commissioners will meet again in a public session at 10 a.m. on April 2.
Zach Pearson, director Veterans Affairs, who also attended the meeting, informed the commissioners about the Veteran Resource and Job Fair from 2 to 7 p.m. on April 9 at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.
