SHAMOKIN - The city will purchase a vacant lot on Shamokin Street from county repository for $1.
The lot at 709-715 N. Shamokin St. was cleared of debris last year after the former Shamokin Health Spa collapsed. City council had placed a $100,000 lien on the property to prevent if from being sold.
The purchase was discussed during the city council meeting on Nov. 11.
Shamokin expended more than $100,000 to complete the demolition and debris removal after the former commercial structure collapsed in June 2012. The city has since been reimbursed by a state grant for all but a few thousand dollars of those expenses.
Additional city funds could be expended pending the outcome of ongoing litigation regarding the collapse and the original contractor that had worked on the demolition project.
In other business, city council voted to:
- Approve a lease agreement with Susquehanna Bank for Shamokin Redevelopment Authority to rent office space adjacent to the bank on Independence Street for $1 annually. The space had once been a coffee shop. The RDA and the city are responsible for utility payments and any renovations.
- Extend an easement for 50 years with Global Signal Acquisitions for land on Raspberry Hill where a cellular tower is erected. It must also be approved by the Shamokin Housing Authority. The value of the easement is $146,000. The current easement was set to expire in 2019.
- Authorize the transfer of a liquor license from a Rebuck tavern to Bill Dudeck, who is working on opening a tavern on Independence Street.
- Approve a 5K Jingle Run/Walk in the city at 7:30 a.m. Dec. 7. The event is sponsored by VNA Health System. The run/walk begins and ends at VNA's office on Independence Street. It coincides with the Downtown Christmas event also planned Dec. 7.