First Posted: 3/25/2015
PITTSTON — The Land Bank Authority held its quarterly meeting on Wednesday evening and discussed the pursuit of a Local Share Account (LSA) grant for the 2015 year.
Executive Director of the Land Bank Authority Joe Chacke said the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) did not act on the LSA grant as they were anticipated to do so earlier in March.
All municipalities within the Luzerne County are eligible for an LSA grant and projects supported by the grant must be used to improve the quality of life of citizens within the community.
Chacke said the Land Bank Authority was not necessarily denied an LSA, rather that the CFA, which consists of nine board members, simply could not come to an agreement on awarding grants and that they will address the issue in May.
“If they all don’t agree, it doesn’t get approved,” said Chacke. “It’s not a negative reflection on us; they don’t get to vote on one application at a time — it’s a whole list. It’s $12 million and all nine (board members) have to agree.”
According to Chacke, this was not the first instance this has happened.
“It did happen last year and those who got LSA grants did not receive them until September,” said Chacke. “They tell me it’s on the agenda for their May 13 meeting and hopefully they act on it because if it doesn’t get voted on then, they’re not going to vote on it in July because of the budget and then it won’t be looked at until August or September.”
The use for it will be discussed when the LSA grant is awarded.
“We do know that both (state Rep.) Mike Carroll and (state) Senator (John) Yudichak are very supportive of us, so hopefully it’ll work out,” said Land Bank Authority member Bob Linskey.
The Land Bank Authority also discussed bidding the County Cooperation Agreement and the School District Cooperation Agreement.
The County Cooperation Agreement is an agreement between the Land Bank and the county allowing the Land Bank Authority to purchase properties at a negotiated price without having to outbid someone else trying to purchase said property.
The School District Cooperation Agreement will be proposed to both Luzerne County council and the Wyoming Area and Pittston Area school boards. The agreement states that properties purchased by the Land Bank Authority will be returned to the ownership of the county and the school district in which it is located. In return, the tax revenue from properties will be distributed amongst all three parties, which will assist the Land Bank in purchasing future blighted properties.
The Land Bank Authority consists of representatives from four member municipalities including Pittston City, Jenkins Township, Duryea and West Pittston. The purpose of the Land Bank Authority is to assist municipalities by purchasing blighted properties and either rehabilitating or demolishing them.
The next meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 27 at Pittston City Hall, 35 Broad St. and is open to the public.
