Latest news with #LuzerneCountyCouncil
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Luzerne County Council to discuss tax break alteration and coyote hunting request
Apr. 5—Luzerne County Council is set to discuss a tax break alteration and coyote hunting request at its Tuesday work session. A council majority had approved the tax break for Hazleton Creek Commerce Center Holdings in 2021 for a $500 million project on 400-acre site badly scarred from past coal mining and two dumps. The tract is along Routes 309 and 924, mostly in Hazleton and partly in Hazle Township. Bethlehem-based Hazleton Creek plans to build five warehousing and manufacturing structures totaling 5.5 million square feet. Hazleton Creek's agreement with the county contained a clause saying the break would be forfeited if the company becomes delinquent on non-exempt real estate taxes at the site. Company representative Bob Kiel said he has absolutely no objection to this condition. But because the tract will be subdivided into six sections, he is asking council to change the wording to ensure the occupants of all parcels would not be penalized and lose the break if one becomes delinquent. Kiel said he expects Hazleton Creek will continue owning all six subdivided parcels throughout the break and going forward, unless an occupant determines it wants to purchase its parcel. As standard industry practice, companies leasing the buildings constructed by Hazleton Creek would be responsible for paying the real estate taxes and also receive the tax break incentive. The revision on Tuesday's work session would apply the stipulation to each lot and says nonpayment by one lot owner would "not in any way affect" the exemption of other lots. The break is under the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance (LERTA) program for blighted properties, which means the property owner pays real estate taxes on the land throughout the break and receives a discount on taxes for the new development. Bethlehem-based project developer Robert Kiel convinced a council majority to grant full forgiveness on the new buildings for a decade because the tract had been surface and deep mined, requiring the company to complete state-mandated environmental reclamation work and cap old landfills before construction could begin. Kiel said last week that much of that work has been completed — including landfill capping and earth-moving — following an extensive permitting and regulatory process. Hazleton Creek has invested millions of dollars in the project to date, he said. The company is in the process of demolishing an old automobile business along Route 309, and one of the five building pads has been completed, Kiel said. Kiel stressed Hazleton Creek is committed to the project and not looking to sell the tract. "We're not walking away. We're excited about this project and have been working on it almost five years now," he said. When he last appeared before county council in 2021, Kiel said he had constructed about 70 million square feet of property in Pennsylvania and other states during his more than 30-year development career. He said he was drawn to the Hazleton project for the challenge and reception he received from city leaders. Tuesday's work session follows a 6 p.m. voting meeting at the county courthouse on River Street in Wilkes-Barre. A link for the remote attendance option is posted under council's online meetings section at Council would have to approve the change at a future voting meeting for it to take effect. Coyotes Council also is set to discuss a request from Ronald Yaron to hunt coyote on county-owned property near the Eagle Rock Resort in the Hazleton area to eliminate a nuisance to the housing development, the work session agenda said. His communication said he will follow all safety requirements and Pennsylvania Game Commission regulations, including carrying a license, wearing safety apparel and hunting 151 yards away from any dwellings. If a coyote is harvested, the carcass is considered residual waste and will be properly disposed, he said. His submission included a photograph of a deer that had been attacked and killed by a coyote at Eagle Rock Resort. Consolidating departments The county administration is seeking a council resolution authorizing the combination of the county Mapping/GIS Department with Planning and Zoning, the work session agenda said. This merger would enhance decisions related to planning and development, it said. Planning and Zoning is part of the operational services division. Mapping/GIS would move from the administration services division to operational services. Staff for both departments would remain the same with the exception of reducing department heads from two to one. County GIS/Mapping Director Dan Reese has been serving as acting planning/zoning executive director since Matthew Jones resigned last May. Reach Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or on Twitter @TLJenLearnAndes.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
McDermott unanimously elected chair of Bi-County Airport Board
Mar. 27—PITTSTON TWP. — Luzerne County Council Member Lee Ann McDermott was unanimously elected chair of the Bi-County Airport Board on Thursday. McDermott replaces former Lackawanna County Commissioner Matt McGloin, who resigned earlier this month. McDermott had been serving as vice chair. McGloin resigned as a Lackawanna County commissioner to accept an assistant coaching position at Boston College football job that he quickly quit. McGloin, a former NFL and Penn State quarterback had agreed to join the staff of his former head coach, Bill O'Brien, at Boston College. McGloin abruptly decided to not take the Boston College job and he also decided to not return to his county commissioner's position. McGloin and fellow Democrat Bill Gaughan were elected in 2023 and took office as the county's majority commissioners in January 2024. Lackawanna County has not named a replacement for McGloin on the Board of Commissioners. McDermott thanked her fellow board members and immediately began the board meeting. A vice chair was not elected on Thursday. In other business: —Carl Beardsley, Jr., the airport's executive director, announced increased flights to Washington-Dulles International Airport. Effective March 31, there will be three daily departures and arrivals between Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Washington-Dulles — departures at 6 a.m., 10:05 a.m. and 2:50 p.m.; arrivals at 9:42 a.m., 2:02 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. Beardsley said the 10:05 a.m. departure and the 9:42 a.m. arrival are new flights that will be offered beginning March 31. —Accepted the resignation of Eric McKitish, Pittston, director of marketing, communications and air service development, effective April 7. —Appointed Mark C. Bailer, Scranton, as director of public safety, effective March 21. —McKitish reported that the deadline for Real ID is May 7. —Beardsley reported passenger activity increased in January and February. He said passenger enplanements for the month of January 2025 increased 47.6% to 20,444 from 13,849 in the month of January 2024. In January 2025, 11 departing flights were cancelled, all for weather. This accounts for 702 (2.6%) out of a total of 27,208 departure seats. Also, 11 arriving flights were cancelled, all for weather. Passenger enplanements for the month of February 2025 increased 32.8% to 19,962, up from 15,027 in the month of February 2024. In February 2025, 7 departing flights were cancelled, all for weather. This accounts for 379 (1.5%) out of a total of 25,714 departure seats. Also, 7 arriving flights were cancelled, all for weather. —The board approved a HVAC maintenance agreement extension with Scranton Electric Heating & Cooling Service Inc., Throop, for professional services until current HVAC project is completed. The total monthly cost is not to exceed $2,974.17. —The board welcomed Betty J. Teichman, Bloomsburg, as assistant airport director, who began working on Feb. 24. Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
16 candidates running for Luzerne County Council
Mar. 11—Sixteen Luzerne County Council candidates filed the required paperwork by Tuesday's deadline to appear on the May 20 primary election ballot — nine Republicans and seven Democrats. County Republicans and Democrats will each pick five nominees in the primary. The 10 primary nominees will face off in the Nov. 4 general election, when all voters are free to pick five of any affiliation. The primary election Republican contenders: Thomas Dombroski, Dallas; Ronald D. Knapp, Nanticoke; Kevin Lescavage, West Pittston; John Lombardo, Pittston; Jackie Scarcella, Hazle Township; Brian Thornton, West Pittston; Stephen J. Urban, Kingston; Bob Viars, Slocum Township; and Greg Wolovich, Hanover Township. Lescavage, Lombardo, Thornton and Wolovich are incumbents. The fifth seat expiring the end of this year is filled by Chris Perry, who is not seeking re-election. On the Democratic side, the candidates are: Chris Belles, West Pittston; Steven M. Coslett, Forty Fort; Tony Perzia, Luzerne; Johnny Price, Dupont; Dawn Simmons, Wilkes-Barre; Emily Singh, Fairmount Township; and Denise Williams, Kingston Township. Based on the number of contenders, four Republicans and two Democrats won't advance to the general election. Council members receive $8,000 annually. In addition to adopting a budget, their duties include approving larger contracts, appointing members to outside county boards, enacting codes and ordinances, confirming nominations to eight division head positions and hiring/firing and evaluating the manager. All candidates County Election Director Emily Cook has posted an online list of all candidates who filed nomination petition signatures and other required paperwork to appear on the primary election ballot. Posted on the election page at the list is lengthy because this is a local election year with many municipal, school and county races, including tax collectors, election inspectors and judges of elections. In addition to informing the public, the posting serves as an initial form of proofing because candidates can check it and alert the bureau if they detect any issues with the spelling of their name or any other problem, Cook said. Candidates may call 570-825-1715 or email elections@ to report any issues. Now that the filing deadline has passed, the county election bureau will send candidates both text messages and written communications stating their name and the office they are seeking for verification purposes, Cook said. Reach Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or on Twitter @TLJenLearnAndes.
