Renovo Council Targets Blighted Properties for Demolition and Renovation; Approves Full Holiday Pay for Employees

By Kevin Rauch

RENOVO – The change in fate of two properties in Renovo were the key topics at November’s Renovo Council meeting on Wednesday evening as it is hoped that both have promising futures.

One of the boroughs most visible, condemned structures located at 215/217 Champlain Avenue located along RT 120 at the western end of town, has been the target of removal for years and has reached yet another milestone.

Now in the borough’s possession, council received an estimate of $80,000 to have the property demolished and razed. The double-house unit has close and inhabited homes on both sides of it as well as the back of the house which sits near an occupied neighboring property.

With the legitimate price of removal on record, the borough agreed to seek a Local Share Grant for demolition of the property as Secretary Ashley Sporny has already begun the process.

Council accepted a $520 repository bid from Blair Strouse on another abandoned property at 135 8th Street. That address is half of a double house and has been vacant for years. Council has not spoken to Strouse on what his plans are but outwardly hoped that improvements are in that building’s future.

A motion to apply for a USDA Grant/Loan for a 2025 Police Interceptor SUV was tabled but council is aware that their Charger has reached its life expectancy and will not be able to be used for much longer into the future.

Council also agreed to pay its employees for federal holidays, at the full rate of their pay for that day. Previously, for the holidays that their employees were paid, it was at a rate of 4 hours. Moving forward all holidays will be paid at whatever the employees would have worked on that day if not for the holiday.