County Commissioners Respond to Renovo Criticism
LOCK HAVEN – The Clinton County Commissioners have defended their handling of the recent sale of a vacant lot in Renovo, the county action earlier this month drawing criticism from some members of Renovo borough council.
The commissioners Tuesday released a two-page statement in which they said it was “unfortunate” Renovo borough’s bid for the old Knights of Columbus property “was caught in this transitional period” for the county’s repository sale procedures.
Renovo last year submitted a $500 bid for the property at Erie Avenue and Sixth Street. But the county subsequently received and recently accepted a $1,000 bid from Riggle LLC.
The commissioners noted they had adopted new procedures for the purchase of repository properties (those which had gone unclaimed through sheriff and judicial sales) in May of last year but said the borough bid for the K of C site came in prior to the revision of the procedure.
The commissioner statement noted that at last week’s Renovo borough council meeting “the county was criticized for its handling of repository properties.”
The borough had spent $22,000 in demolishing the property, the county $8,000. Commissioner Joel Long said the borough “did the right thing” by addressing a significant safety issue and cited the county contribution, adding “The County did not consider, nor was it obligated to examine the borough placing a lien on the property.” He said that would be a matter for the Renovo borough solicitor.
The county statement did say the policy adopted last year “lacked details on the timeliness of accepting repository bids,” noting the policy was amended this past June, exonerating municipalities from the minimum $500 bid.
Under the new procedures, it is a competitive bidding process and sealed bids accepted, now scheduled three times a year, February 1, June 1 and October 1.
County solicitor Larry Coploff, who had been involved in formulating the new policy, said “We worked together to refine the process we now have,” calling it a “solid, fair procedure.”
The commissioners collectively said they thought it “good that a private concern wanted the (Renovo) property and will hopefully proceed to enhance the property and its value.
The commissioners also lauded the recent borough council action directed at hiring a building maintenance codes officer, calling the move “a huge positive step towards preventing blighted properties such as was the case with the K of C property.”
They said they are “hopeful” borough council will accept the pending Riggle bid “to return the K of C building lot back on the tax rolls.”
The commissioners expressed confidence in the new setup, Jeff Snyder calling it “clear, precise, timely” and also fulfilling the ultimate goal of reducing the repository list.
Two Renovo borough council members, Kari Kepler and Rhonda Balchun, had been openly critical of the county handling of the K of C issue, Kepler stating she will be voting “no” when borough council has to vote on whether to concur with the sale of the lot to Riggle LLC.
