EMPORIUM — The Cameron County Commissioners on Wednesday offered remarks on the recently-held judicial tax sale, the first of its type held in the county in 17 years.
Commissioner Phil Jones presented information provided by county solicitor E.W. Tompkins, stating that in total 18 properties were sold through the sale.
Four properties that were successfully bid upon did not end up selling, due to the buyers not making payment by the deadline, which was set for the afternoon following the sale.
Those four properties will be placed into the repository with the two that did not go during the sale. All six properties will be available for the public to enter bids on in the next several weeks. Bids must be higher than the opening bid listed for the judicial tax sale, and all three taxing bodies — county, municipality and school district — must approve the amount.
Tompkins said the Tax Claim Bureau collected $78,352.36 in delinquent property taxes and costs as owners paid up back amounts to remove their properties from the sale list.
The 18 properties that sold generated $17,704, reimbursing the county for collection costs and fees pertaining to the sale and serving of documentation related to it. A total of $89,749.23 was collected through the sold properties.
“All in all it was a huge success,” said Jones.
“Kudos to Tommy Tompkins for making this sale happen and for making it happen the right way,” Commissioner Glen Fiebig added.
In other news, two Emporium-based companies were named as finalists for the Governor’s Impact Awards, with a ceremony held last week in Harrisburg.
GKN was the recipient of the Community Impact Award for the North Central Region. The Community Impact Award is given to a company that exemplifies the tenet of “doing well by doing good.” GKN showed a sustained commitment to the growth and development of its employees and the communities in which it does business.
Embassy Powdered Metals was the first runner-up for the Small Business Impact Award in the North Central Region. The Small Business Impact Award is given to a business with 100 or fewer employees that has been an innovator within its industry, demonstrated revenue/profit growth, increased its workforce and committed to the growth and development of its employees and community.
Also, the commissioners approved a U.S. Department of Agriculture loan in the amount of $25,000 to Jill Fryxell Rentals for partial financing of the Cabin Kitchen Restaurant in Emporium. Commissioner Jim Thomas abstained from the vote.
Requests for proposals were approved for construction of the new courthouse garage following specification review by Cliff Clark of the Industrial Development Board. M.A. Songer Building and Remodeling of Emporium was awarded the contract for construction of the building in the amount of $142,000, while demolition of the old garage was awarded to Bucktail Excavators of St. Marys at a cost of $2,988.
Bids were opened for repairs at the Emporium Senior Center. Only one bid was entered, received from D&D Builders of Mount Jewett in the amount of $13,200. The decision was tabled pending review by Clark. Work will include installation of new flooring in the dining and kitchen areas and repairs and insulation in the attic.
The next commissioners meeting will be held at noon June 18 at the courthouse in Emporium.
