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Commissioners work to establish KOZ zones |
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Written by Publisher
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Wednesday, 29 April 2009 |
SMETHPORT – McKean County Commissioners yesterday took steps to establish further Keystone Opportunity Zones in Mt. Jewett and near Port Allegany.
By George Petrisek
Special to The Kane Republican
SMETHPORT – McKean County Commissioners yesterday took steps to establish further Keystone Opportunity Zones in Mt. Jewett and near Port Allegany.
Commissioners approved an approximately a 20–acre extension of an existing KOZ in Mt. Jewett to include the former site of Keystone Thermister, included is a 38,500 square foot steel building with cement floors and metal interior walls, and “enough space to house (two or more) industrial or manufacturing businesses.”
The resolution notes that the property, now owned by Brian Sees, is presently being marketed to several local companies.
They also took the first step towards turning a Liberty Township property into Keystone Opportunity Zone.
The KOZ, which still must be approved by the state, will be on approximately 19 acres of now-vacant land west of Route 155 just south of Port Allegany. The tract is owned by Portage Industrial Development, which has been trying to get new industry situated there.
In a KOZ, new industry will pay virtually no taxes, including real estate and sales tax, for 10 years..
Commissioners noted in the adopted resolution that the area is in need of new opportunities and that the creation of a KOZ would potentially help attract business and would improve economic, social and physical and social conditions in the area by stimulating existing businesses and their employment, creating new employment and diminishing blight.
Portage Development has already obtained a grant to build a new sewer line along Route 155 and connecting to the borough sewer system; the line would serve any development in the KOZ, as well as another conceived development on the other side of the highway and existing residences.
The board also authorized the firm of R.W. Wilson to go ahead with plans for a separate facility at the county jail to house about two dozen work–release inmates and for a small addition to the main building to enlarge the kitchen and food service facilities.
Commissioner Al Pingie pointed out that since the county terminated its contract with the operators of Sena Kean Manor to provide packaged meals and resumed cooking in the jail, the county has been saving about $14,000 a month.
Commissioners hope construction on both projects will be finished by the end of this year.
It was also mentioned that bids for the reconstruction of the Boyer Crossing Bridge over the Allegheny River east of Port Allegany will be opened May 14; that project is also slated for completion this year.
A letter of support for North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning Commission to pursue funds for a carrier independent multi-county fiber optic telecommunications network similar to the one recently completed by Zito Media in McKean and parts of other counties.
Also re-approved was an agreement with Elk County HMRT, a state-certified hazmat team to provide primary response coverage in case of a hazardous materials spill in the county.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 12 June 2009 )
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