Commissioners OK $$ for airport multi-tenant, Knox Kane Corridor / By Martha Knight

SMETHPORT—In a busy semimonthly session Tuesday morning, the McKean County Commissioners handled a number of decisions and heard from visitors.

In one agenda item commissioners Joe DeMott, Al Pingie and Cliff Lane agreed to “provide the necessary guarantee of $300,000 to finance the construction of the multi-tenant center north 2 project,” at the Bradford Regional Airport(BRA).

The estimated cost of the project was stated as $1,900,000. Of that amount, PennDOT’s Bureau of Aviation has committed $950,000 and applicant equity of $100,000 has been committed. An Appalachia Regional Commission (ARC) contribution of $200,000 is pending, as is a USDA contribution of $50,000.

The enabling resolution adopted by the commissioners states that a $300,000 loan is required by the ARC. Whether some or all of the county’s contribution will be repaid from other funding sources will depend on further financial developments, DeMott said. He chairs both the McKean County Commissioners and the airport commission.

The commissioners also agreed to commit $15,000 “to support the initial cost of an appraisal for the Knox Kane Corridor to begin negotiations with the owner and to meet funding requirements that have been submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, McCune Foundation.”

The topic of lengthy studies, development of the corridor for recreational use has been backed by McKean, Elk, Forest and Clarion counties and various groups. A multi-use trail is planned between Kinzua Bridge and Clarion Junction, a distance of about 74 miles, with the pilot project being the stretch between Kinzua Bridge and Lantz Corners.

The Kovalchick Corporation still owns the abandoned railroad bed. The Knox-Kane Rail Trail Committee plans to negotiate with the owner for purchase or an easement covering the area needed to develop the trail. Also, the funding approved at the meeting is needed to meet requirements of the application to DCNR.

Jim Herzog presented a review of nine points presented previously to the commissioners in support of lower Clean and Green(C&G)  use values for forest reserve land enrolled in the program by 100 owners. He also added an additional (tenth) argument.

Asserting again that C&G use values must, by law, be preferential, Herzog stated that the use values set by the county cannot exceed fair market value.

Herzog maintains that the correct use value for the forest reserve category is $94 per acre. He presented calculations showing that the county’s current use value for forest reserve is many times that, and many times the annualized value of any timber harvest performed on an 80-year cycle.

The new argument presented to the commissioners by Herzog is based on statements made by the county’s counsel in C&G litigation, in particular one at a hearing in January: “The use value is a special preference you get by agreeing to a covenant…You get the preferential use value which is less than your assessed value.”

Herzog noted that the county’s tax attorney had explained the roll-back penalty applied to C&G owners when they violated the C&G agreement or harvested timber, “confirming that it is impossible to have a use value more than fair market value.”

Asked for a response, the commissioners demurred, with DeMott stating that it would be improper to comment on a matter under litigation.

A change in C&G policy would be appropriate at this point, Herzog said, inasmuch as the county is about to set use values for 2015.

Commissioners voted to provide a prepaid deposit to Link Computer Corporation, in the amount of $5,000, to expedite service provision when the county’s departments call on Link for software support. With the deposit in place, Link will not have to wait for purchase orders to be processed.

Also approved was a SAVIN maintenance and service agreement with the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Institute. PA SAVIN is the automated victim notification system whereby victims of crimes are notified when offenders are about to be released from prison, or to be transferred, or when offenders have escaped.

Commissioners approved a service agreement with Karpinski’s Office Systems, Coudersport, for a copy machine in the adult probation department, for $48 a month, covering labor, parts and consumables other than paper.

The only invoice presented for payment, that of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services (ADAS) for $10,464, was approved. It covers the county’s support to ADAS for the quarter that ended March 31.

Frederic and Barbara Montuori were granted a tax refund of $791.38 on the basis of a veteran’s exemption effective July 31, 2013.

Commissioners approved 11 service provider agreements as requested by the Department of Human Services.

Commissioners also announced the appointment of Ed Tronetti as the new director of maintenance of county facilities, heard from Heather McKean about a significant national award presented to her Watershed Conservation unit’s aquatic stewardship and watershed support efforts, and hosted three American Government students from Port Allegany (see other Port Allegany Online coverage).