SMETHPORT — Contrary to reports circulated earlier this month, the purchase of the former Knox-Kane rail corridor by Headwaters Charitable Trust of Curwensville has not went through, according to Dr. Karen Sees of the MJ2KB T(rails) Club at the McKean County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday.
Sees said one of the club members spoke to Joe Kovalchick, who reported the sale is not final, the money has not changed hands and the deed has not been transferred to Headwaters. On Sept. 14, Nathan Kovalchick told The Era via email an agreement was in place with Headwaters, but would not confirm the sale.
Several area media outlets reported on Sept. 6 the two parties closed the sale.
The commissioners reported they heard nothing about signing the lease with Headwaters on the 3.9-mile section of corridor which lies between Mount Jewett and Kinzua Bridge State Park.
In other news, the commissioners moved to advertise an ordinance which would increase taxes on hotel rooms from three to five percent.
Commissioner Al Pingie stressed the tax hike would not affect the average taxpayer but those who rent hotel rooms in the county.
Commissioner Joe DeMott said that it was a tax, “but on people coming into the county” for recreation. DeMott said the tax first started in 2005 and the money raised from the taxes will go toward the Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau.
The ordinance is expected to be voted on at the next commissioners meeting.
The commissioners also moved to authorize the county to enter into a renewal maintenance agreement with SBM Electronics of Pittsburgh for the voice recording system at the McKean County 911 Center.
The agreement is for one year at a cost of $5,443.20. Director Andrew Johnson said the system records all phone traffic at the center, and the agreement is renewed annually.
The commissioners also authorized the county to enter into a grant agreement with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and Northwest Central Pennsylvania Emergency Response Group for the 2016 State Homeland Security Grant Program. The grant is for $286,004. Johnson said McKean County is one of seven counties which the grant will be divided among.
Finally, the commissioners received invoices from Wetmore Township and the Area Transportation Authority (ATA) for projects to be reimbursed.
Wetmore Township will receive $5,524 for its completed liquid fuel project, and ATA will receive $211,034 as a first quarter advance payment for the Medical Assistance Transportation Program which ATA administers for the county. The payment will come from the Grants Public Welfare Fund.
The next commissioners meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Oct. 11.
