Post by klsm54 on Apr 9, 2009 14:26:25 GMT -4
Falls Creek Council nixes KOZ extension
04/08/2009
FALLS CREEK - The Falls Creek Borough Council voted against renewing a Keystone Opportunity Zone extension in its Industrial Park Monday.
Councilman James Kaschalk was absent from the meeting.
According to a previously published article, there were 1,600 acres in Jefferson County in 1999 that were designated as KOZs. The designation brought in about $65 million, created about 1,000 new jobs and retained 600 of those jobs. The only area that would be affected by the extension is the Falls Creek Industrial Park.
Goodwill Industries built its regional office in the park but other than it and the state police barracks, the park is mostly vacant. The extension would have provided a $3,300 tax abatement. If the property stays empty, it will no longer be eligible for the tax break.
KOZs offer deferred property tax payments as an inducement for business and industry to locate or expand.
In order for the extension to take effect, it must be approved by the school district, the county and the municipality the KOZ is located in. On March 26, the school district deferred a motion to approve the extension.
Also,
* Consideration of possible paving projects in the borough is under way.
Borough Manager Cindy Fritz said borough officials have driven around with Jim Schepis of PennDOT to look at the streets. There are 14 alleyways and extensions and three roads that could be paved.
Schepis will take the dimensions, figure the costs of the projects and return them to the council for a decision.
The borough has been allocated $23,292.72 in Liquid Fuels money. Fritz said the amount is very similar to last year and is used or paving and to buy salt.
* The position of code enforcement officer remains vacant after the resignation of Jacqueline Dixon.
Jerry Bishop of the personnel committee said it is reviewing other applications received for the position but is unsure if it will have a recommendation by the May 4 meeting.
* PennDOT sent a letter to the borough saying they will be working on the bridge on Route 830 at the border of Sandy Township and Falls Creek this summer.
The proposed project will remove sediment and debris and place rock protection below the bridge. The letter did not mention this work having any affect on traffic patterns.
* A subdivision was approved for Richard McDonald's land on Osborn Avenue.
* A public meeting will be held at 7 p.m. April 14 at the borough building for the planning committee to discuss the comprehensive plan with borough residents.
The public hearing which must be held before the plan can be approved by the council has not yet been scheduled.
www.zwire.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=20294322&BRD=2758&PAG=461&dept_id=572984&rfi=8
04/08/2009
FALLS CREEK - The Falls Creek Borough Council voted against renewing a Keystone Opportunity Zone extension in its Industrial Park Monday.
Councilman James Kaschalk was absent from the meeting.
According to a previously published article, there were 1,600 acres in Jefferson County in 1999 that were designated as KOZs. The designation brought in about $65 million, created about 1,000 new jobs and retained 600 of those jobs. The only area that would be affected by the extension is the Falls Creek Industrial Park.
Goodwill Industries built its regional office in the park but other than it and the state police barracks, the park is mostly vacant. The extension would have provided a $3,300 tax abatement. If the property stays empty, it will no longer be eligible for the tax break.
KOZs offer deferred property tax payments as an inducement for business and industry to locate or expand.
In order for the extension to take effect, it must be approved by the school district, the county and the municipality the KOZ is located in. On March 26, the school district deferred a motion to approve the extension.
Also,
* Consideration of possible paving projects in the borough is under way.
Borough Manager Cindy Fritz said borough officials have driven around with Jim Schepis of PennDOT to look at the streets. There are 14 alleyways and extensions and three roads that could be paved.
Schepis will take the dimensions, figure the costs of the projects and return them to the council for a decision.
The borough has been allocated $23,292.72 in Liquid Fuels money. Fritz said the amount is very similar to last year and is used or paving and to buy salt.
* The position of code enforcement officer remains vacant after the resignation of Jacqueline Dixon.
Jerry Bishop of the personnel committee said it is reviewing other applications received for the position but is unsure if it will have a recommendation by the May 4 meeting.
* PennDOT sent a letter to the borough saying they will be working on the bridge on Route 830 at the border of Sandy Township and Falls Creek this summer.
The proposed project will remove sediment and debris and place rock protection below the bridge. The letter did not mention this work having any affect on traffic patterns.
* A subdivision was approved for Richard McDonald's land on Osborn Avenue.
* A public meeting will be held at 7 p.m. April 14 at the borough building for the planning committee to discuss the comprehensive plan with borough residents.
The public hearing which must be held before the plan can be approved by the council has not yet been scheduled.
www.zwire.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=20294322&BRD=2758&PAG=461&dept_id=572984&rfi=8