SMETHPORT – McKean County Commissioners granted tax exemption to two Foster Township properties owned by Beacon Light Behavioral Health, among other approvals carried during their regular meeting Tuesday.
Properties owned by schools, municipalities, hospitals, churches, universities and so on are exempt unless revenue is derived from activities on the property. Tennies explained that these types of entities are automatically exempt, but still have to file the request “so we have the action on the books.
“We have a lot of exempt properties that have been on the rolls for many years, since two assessments ago,” she said. “My department is in the process of preparing a survey (to uncover) all currently exempt properties that don’t fall under the immune status.”
Tuesday’s agenda included review of five property exempt status requests, a parcel on Davis Street in Bradford City assessed at $19,150 and two in Kane at 524 Welsh St. and 220 Chase St., collectively assessed at $29,960, all municipal government properties.
Two additional requests were received from Beacon Light Behavioral Health in Foster Township for 17 Derrick Road with an assessed value of $151,790 and for 58 Derrick Road with an assessed value of $113,500.
“The property at 17 Derrick Road is over by the (Foster Brook) Creamery in that plaza, it’s used as a school,” Tennies said.
The request for 58 Derrick Road indicated the property would be used as a treatment facility, but there was some concern from those in attendance that the building is actually an administrative office. The matter was momentarily tabled while county solicitor Anthony Clarke researched the distinction.
“I find no distinction,” Clarke said, about 15 minutes later. “I don’t find anything that pushes an administrative office out of the exemption. I still think we can approve it, though it does raise an interesting question. If you’d like me to dig further, we would need a motion to table it today to research further.”
Each exemption request was ultimately carried by commissioners with no further discussion.
During the commissioners’ comment period, Tom Kreiner shared that commissioners attended the Alliance for Nonprofit Resources’ ribbon cutting and information session in Kane on Monday. He also noted, “Tomorrow being Valentine’s Day, just a reminder it’s heart health month. If you need a checkup, get a checkup; it’s very important.”
In personnel matters, while there were no leaves or changes in service, several new employees were added: Katelyn Decker as a conservation tech and Sarah Carlson as a resource tech with the McKean County Conservation District, Caleb Raught as community service coordinator with Adult Probation; Todd Erickson as a field deputy with the Sheriff’s Department and Kaitlyn Collins as a part-time corrections officer at the jail.
A total of 22 repository sales throughout the county were made at prices ranging from $50 to $5,000.
Commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding between both McKean County 911 Center and the Service Employees International Union Local 668 as well as the county and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).
They also approved Economic Development Liaison Ann Robinson’s appointment to the North Central PA Regional Planning and Development Commission’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Committee (CEDS) Board as an at-large member effective immediately and expiring Dec. 31, 2025.
In other matters, commissioners approved distribution of Act 137 funds in the amounts of $38,778.16 to the McKean County Redevelopment Authority, $5,123.10 to Bradford Township and $10,302.41 to the City of Bradford. They also acted to retain administration funds of 5% from Bradford City, $542.23; Bradford Township, $269.64; and 20 other municipalities, $2,040.96.
Commissioners also approved the purchase of a station folder inserter with maintenance agreement for the Elections/Voter Registration Office at $7,695. Finally, they approved the annual renewal with Optical Storage Solution Inc. with eight licenses for the recorder of deeds at $9,775 and one for planning at $640, effective March 1 through Feb. 28, 2025.
Regarding Department of Human Services agreements, commissioners approved a Human Services Development Fund amendment with both YWCA Bradford and Bradford Ecumenical home.
The next meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. Feb. 27.
