County blesses two new KOEZs

SMETHPORT—The McKean County Commissioners created a Keystone Opportunity Expansion Zone (KOEZ) at Bradford Regional Airport, and another in Bradford City, at their meeting Tuesday morning.

Commissioner chairman Joe DeMott explained that the airport had purchased 14 acres some time back, but the KOEZ will involve 12.85 acres of that.

 

The parcel is described as stretching along Route 59, south of the airport, and being bounded by an existing Keystone Opportunity Zone (KOZ). It is hoped that the tax advantages will help spur development projects at the site.

Inducements to developers in the KOEZ will include a 100 percent exemption from real estate taxes, and abatement of earned income and net profit taxes, as well as business privilege and mercantile taxes, for a 10-year period. 

The commissioners also waive gross receipts tax for the same period. The Department of Community and Economic Development must approve the KOEZ for it to be finalized, according to the enacting resolution.

Five parcels make up the new KOEZ in Bradford. They include .06 acre at 15 Main Street owned by Joseph Frombach, .13 acre at 14 Pine Street owned by the Loyal Order of the Moose, .14 acre at 14 Main Street owned by John R. Kohler (former I.A.S. Club), .1 acre at 40 Main Street owned by Archer Enterprises, and 11 acres at 590 South Avenue owned by Shults Real Estate.

Similar tax advantages will be enjoyed by developers in that KOEZ to those in the airport area one.

Lafayette Township and Bradford City and the school districts involved have been or will be asked to enable the KOEZ.

Commissioners entered into a grant agreement with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) for the Hazardous Material Response Fund (HMRF) grant program for fiscal 2013-14, for a $8,701 grant. McKean County Emergency Management Agency  (EMA) will use the funds to purchase gas detection devices for ammonia and chlorine gas, to add to their array of detection gear, according to DeMott.

Also authorized was an ad hoc professional services agreement with MCM Consulting Group, of McMurray.

In a related approval, commissioners agreed to enter into a cash relocation agreement with Cellco Partnership/Verizon Wireless for point-to-point wireless fixed service.

Commissioners approved a new contract with gas transport company Vineyard Oil and gas, for supplying natural gas to the county’s facilities. The unit cost was dropped from 43 cents to 10 cents, compared with last year.

A new agreement was okayed for the Employee Assistance Program, with ESI of Wellsville, N.Y. It will last until August 31, 2014, and cost $8,723.74. 

Real estate tax refunds were granted at the recommendation of Angelia Tennies, chief assessor. In one, Bradford Forest products will receive $11,484.90 back from the county and $4,966.01 from Bradford Township, from 2013 taxes of $47,346.04 and $20,473.96, respectively, pursuant to a court order. 

Tennies said the property in question is “the parcel where the buildings are.” Bradford Forest Products had appealed to Board of Assessment Appeals, then appealed their decision to the McKean County Court of Common Pleas. But before it came to a hearing, the parties settled. The court order sets forth the agreement.

John R. and Alma Blackwell will receive a refund of $54.58 to correct an error in their 2013 assessment. Eldred Township is expected to refund $17.70.

Francine Akins will be refunded $106.26 to reflect a correction in acreage that had resulted in overpayment of taxes going back to 2007. She will also receive $94.71 from Kane Borough and $228.65 from the school district.

Jack and Darlene Payne are to be refunded $419.67 to correct an error in their square footage going back to 2008. A refund from Annin Township will be $84.74, and from the school district , $656.87.

Eldred Township will receive $6,631 for an oil purchase for road work, and Foster Township’s application for $11,152 for anti-skid material was approved, under county aid.

Previously approved projects were approved for payment from the Liquid Fuels Program: Norwich Township, $2,866 for a completed 2013 project, and Smethport Borough, $7,568 for 2012 and 2013 projects.

Service provider contracts and purchase of service agreements were approved covering four entities, at the request of Human Services Department.