County holds line on taxes

BY STACI WILSON

Taxes will hold steady for Susquehanna County property owners in the coming year.

The county commissioners set the 2015 millage at 10.5 mills for general real estate; but taxpayers will once again see a two mill reduction on their bills in the form of a credit from the Act 13 Impact Fee revenue collected by the county.

The millage set for the county library system also holds at .33 mills.

Commissioner Michael Giangrieco balked at the cost associated with hiring an engineering firm to develop specifications for replacing a section of roof on the courthouse building.

The proposal from DBA Architects came in at $14,800 and included the engineering and design work, drawings and obtaining the necessary permits for the work, Commissioner Alan Hall said.

Hall explained that there are structural issues with the roof; and that it needs to be repitched.

“I can’t believe it’s worth $14,800 to tell a roofer what he needs to do,” Giangrieco countered.

“”I want to talk to a roofer and ask, ‘Do you need an architect to tell us how to replace a roof. If they say they don’t need one, I’m going to say ‘no.’”

He was in favor of consulting with a local roofer to see if a professional in the business thought the engineering work was necessary.

“The issue is not the design and not the engineering. All the liability will rest on us,” Hall said. The matter was tabled.

The purchase of a 2012 Ford Escape XLT 4×4 from Simmons Rockwell, Hallstead, at $17,999 was approved. The vehicle will be used in the Assessment office.

The commissioners also approved the purchase of a gas dryer for the jail from Long’s Laundry Equipment, Dallas, at a cost of $3,700.

The commissioners amended term for the reappointment of George Conner to the County Economic Development Advisory Board. Conner’s appointment will run through Dec. 31, 2017. Bill Kelley was also reappointed to the board to serve a term running through Dec. 31, 2017.

Jim Kessler was reappointed as a farmer director to the Susquehanna County Conservation District Board of Directors through Dec. 31, 2015; MaryAnn Warren was reappointed as a commissioner director through Dec. 31, 2015.

The commissioners accepted, with regret, the resignation of Jean Castrogiovanni as farmer director from the Susquehanna County Conservation District Board of Directors, effective Dec. 31, 2014.

Michelle Hillard was hired to the position of Correctional Training Sergeant, effective Nov. 27, at the county jail.

Several part-time corrections officer positions were filled by the commissioners.

The commissioners will advertise for bids for the Recycling Center refuse needs. Bids will be opened at the Dec. 24 commissioners’ meeting.

The commissioners also opened for review the 2015-16 Equipment bids.