Schuylkill commissioners OK phone, electronic participation

Schuylkill County commissioners will now be able to conduct business with full participation, even though one member is absent.

On Wednesday, the board adopted a resolution authorizing the participation of a member of the board via telephone or other electronic means for a commissioners’ meeting, work session, or executive session when such member’s participation is necessary for a quorum.

However, if no members of the board can actually be there, then the meeting will be canceled.

In other matters, commissioners approved several property sale agreements.

They included the settlement of an objection to the upset sale held Sept. 25, 2017, of a property at 322 Mush Dahl Road, West Penn Township, that was assessed to New Tripoli Bank.

Under the agreement, the sale of the property will be approved.

The property was sold by the bank on Nov. 20, 2017, to 081517 Portfolio Trust and to Watermelon Realty for $32,621. Both entities list a single Orwigsburg post office box address.

The other agreements involved the county and the Scranton Diocese over the former St. Michael’s School in Pine Grove Township and Eihab human services.

The agreement settles one reached on July 5, 1995, between the school and county.

The third settled an assessment appeal initiated by a taxpayer in the matter of Albert Breznik versus the Board of Assessment Appeals.

After extensive negotiations, the parties agreed to a fair market value of $165,000 for the Ringtown property.

Also on Wednesday, commissioners awarded contracts for demolition projects.

AMC Enterprises, Frackville, was given a $39,948 contract to tear down blighted buildings at 461-463 W. Mahanoy Ave. in Butler Township.

The company was also given a $69,448 contract to demolish properties at 140,142 and 144 Sunbury St. in Minersville.

Northeast Industrial Services, Shamokin, was given a $33,439 contract for a demolition project at a street in Girardville.