County accepts PHARE grant / By Martha Knight

SMETHPORT—McKean County Commissioners adopted a resolution Monday morning formally acknowledging and accepting the award of $40,000 through the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) Fund.

The funds will be split evenly between the Bradford Second Ward Neighborhood Revitalization Project and the 57 Hawthorne Road Project, also in Bradford.

The sale of two Ford 2004 trucks, left pending last month when it was not clear which truck should go to each of the two bidders, was not consummated. Commissioner Cliff Lane moved that last month’s bids be rejected, and the trucks be advertised anew, with each truck being clearly identified based on mileage. Commissioner Pingie seconded Lane’s motion.

The new ad will also set a base bid amount of $2,000, at Lane’s suggestion. He noted that he had checked on trade-in values for similar trucks and they range from $2,000 to $2,500.

In two resolutions the commissioners agreed to continue the arrangement whereby the Reschini Group, Indiana, Pennsylvania, will continue to serve the county in connection with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Benecon, a health coverage consortium of a number of counties, is a third party in the arrangement.

The commissioners approved the addition of Erie County to another multi-county consortium by amending a cooperation agreement adopted earlier this year establishing the Northern Tier Regional Telecommunications Project.

Commissioner chairman Joe DeMott said that the addition of Erie County will reduce costs to the rest of the member counties by 27 percent. Erie County will contribute to the start-up costs and to ongoing expenditures for the project.

Real estate tax refunds were approved for Dianna Wadlow, in the amount of $139.30 county, $241.26, Bradford City and $317.61, Bradford Area School District; Billie Jo Schatz, $319.09 county, $33.97 Hamilton Township; Raymond Jr. and Anita Nagel, $8.25 county, $14.29 Bradford City, $19.19, Bradford Area School District; Wesley Schunk, $83.13 county, $143.97 Bradford City, $193.39, Bradford Area School District; and Raymond McMahon, $309.30 county, $167.19 Foster Township.

The reason for the tax refund in each instance was given as “Assessment was appealed and lowered per informal appeal.” Solicitor Dan Hartle confirmed that the property owners in question had used the normal assessment appeal method of filing for an appeal with the county Board of Assessment Appeals.

An exemption from real estate tax was granted to the City of Bradford for a .02-acre plot at 17 Pine Street, used as a municipal parking lot.

Offers for purchases of real estate in the county repository were accepted from Bernard Hauber, who will pay $250 for .05 acre and a house at 71 School Street, Bradford; from Donna Speziale, $250 for a .14 acre lot at Calvin Court, Bradford; and Roy G. Willard, $505.95 for a .09 acre lot at 57 Amm Street, Bradford.

Dinah Gallegos, tax claim director, had recommended approval of the sales, based on bids.

Invoices approved for payment were from Hamlin Township, $12,784, for street and road paving for years 2010 through 2013; Kane Borough, $7,562, for 2013; Eldred Township, $13,662, 2013 and 2013 projects; and VFW Post 212 (Bradford), $300, as reimbursement for Memorial Day expenses.

DeMott said that up to four years of Liquid Fuel Fund eligible projects could be combined for funding under that program.

Community Development Block Grant funding for 2010  was shifted among projects, as recommended by the McKean County Housing and Redevelopment Authority.

Funding amounts still came to the same $377,994 total for 2010. The changes in allocations allowed for some completed projects to be closed out, and altered the scope of some others.

Commissioners also approved agreements with two service providers, at the request of the Department of Human Services.

The commissioners held their “second Tuesday” meeting of the month a day early because a quarterly meeting of an area-wide organization meets Tuesday, and they will attend that.