Lock Haven City Council Meeting Highlights: Castanea Dam Removal, Frozen Snot Trail Race Approval, and Tax Assessment Appeal

By Emily Wright

LOCK HAVEN—The Lock Haven City Council met for its regular meeting on Monday night at City Hall. Due to technical difficulties, the live stream of the meeting on the city’s Facebook page was not available. Sitting in for City Manager Greg Wilson, who was absent from the meeting, was Cyndi Walker, Director of Permits and Licensing. In place of Kasey Campbell, Director of Community Life, was Carter Simcox, City Planner I.

With no comments from residents or city taxpayers during the public comment period of the meeting, the council proceeded to the next agenda item. The organizers of the annual Frozen Snot trail race submitted a request to use Zindel Park and the watershed trail for the event in 2025. Council Member Masorti moved to approve the request, which was seconded by Council Member Brannan and passed unanimously. The trail race is scheduled for Saturday, February 1, 2025.

The first item to be discussed under “Unfinished Business” was approval of the engineering costs for the Castanea Dam removal project. The City is set to embark on a significant environmental and safety project: removing the Upper Castanea Dam. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) has flagged the dam as “unsafe”, and it has been drained since 2020. To address this, the city is pursuing funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through the Rehabilitation of High Hazard Potential Dams (HHPD) Program.

To recommend the project, the PADEP requires that the city immediately design, permit, and prepare plans for the dam’s removal. This process requires numerous approvals and permits. If the project is approved after review, the city must immediately begin construction.

The planning phase alone, which will be conducted by Gwin, Dobson & Foreman, Inc. (GDF), is estimated to cost $59,000.00. Since the FEMA grant does not cover engineering expenses, the city will shoulder this cost upfront. The estimated cost of the entire project is $1.7 million.

During the meeting, the council clarified that the engineering costs are not fixed fees; they are charged on an hourly basis. If the actual costs come in lower than the proposal, the savings will be passed on.

The council members acknowledged that the engineering work is required regardless of whether the grant is obtained since the Dam has been deemed unsafe. Ultimately, the council voted unanimously to approve the engineering costs for the dam removal project.

Next, in a move towards promoting environmental consciousness and community well-being, the City Council approved a resolution affirming their commitment to the Sustainable Pennsylvania Municipal Certification Program.

Resolution No. 2024-28 highlights the City’s ambition to be a leader in sustainable municipal operations. By continuing its participation in the Sustainable Pennsylvania Municipal Certification Program, the City aims to achieve recognition for its dedication to economic prosperity, social equity, and environmental conservation.

Council Member Richard Conklin mentioned that the city has been participating in this program for several years and that the resolution supports potential progress to the next level of certification.

This program serves as a benchmark for excellence in sustainability, and through Resolution No. 2024-28, the city commits to the continued promotion of sustainability through its municipal policies and practices.

Notice of a settlement between Clinton County’s real estate taxing bodies and SV Propco LLC was briefly discussed during the meeting. A recent court order has settled a tax assessment appeal for the former Susqueview property located at 22 Cree Drive in Lock Haven, slashing its assessed value over the next few years.

Property owner SV Propco, LLC, challenged the assessed value set by the Clinton County Board of Assessment Appeals. The company argued that the previous assessment was too high, leading to excessive property taxes, and sought a reduction.

The court has approved a settlement that gradually reduces the assessed value of the property as follows:

– 2023: Assessment reduced from $6,559,400 to $5,208,840 (Reflecting a fair market value of $8,190,000 at the 63.6% Common Level Ratio (CLR))
– 2024: Further reduced to $4,799,340 (Reflecting a fair market value of $8,190,000 at the 58.6% CLR)
– 2025: Final reduction to $4,488,120 (Reflecting a fair market value of $8,190,000 at the 54.8% CLR)

Due to the lowered assessments, the City of Lock Haven, Clinton County, and Keystone Central School District may have received real estate tax overpayments, which they must refund to SV Propco, LLC, within 60 days of the court’s settlement approval.