[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6343908,"mediaKeyId","2251573-4844b188feeb472ef2230df85543948b","parentId",2251573,"title","William Penn property committee hears Delaware County Land Bank presentation; resolution language to be drafted","audioSeconds",1673,"startMs",43500,"endMs",1717000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2251573-4844b188feeb472ef2230df85543948b&start=43&end=1717","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2251573-4844b188feeb472ef2230df85543948b/thumbnail_43500.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6343908/Pennsylvania/William-Penn-property-committee-hears-Delaware-County-Land-Bank-presentation-resolution-language-to-be-drafted","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6343908-ffa3fdc31db72f129195e67b5ae4726c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771160498&Signature=JYbeRtsUQGS2PmEDuqh3SBNxX4hl~FXEFmwFKFAsZNCq9Wm~akNEGD-bwH803OUQG~qm7BnhGfGws6sUPqmjpqA0FoqyiTqydLMWD7lRHTE5oAI2kSbuX7sWEMFskaDQy9kh2nLM-CR5ZhRpblpPM4frNnTmQwQbuNJ52VLpH-wkc8~ml60ZTJUgM16oN4ESQfZ1n8QvzUqPSZ7xuOJ3oj4qPeJJTDVn-eQbR7XtykkF3YXNVO3RQL9jar9nNmWDOKBXUxqAAOMTBC0AqTNcUWWokaex~f-HpieI5la3Mza5H2lrKERu5pyBFnGyU-l4JR~sV0wyuQb6hwdpYZ25ew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-02-05T16:09:27Z","article","Laura Goodrich Kearns, commerce director for Delaware County, told the William Penn School District Property Committee on Feb. 7 that the Delaware County Land Bank could acquire tax-delinquent parcels before judicial sale and work with municipalities to return them to productive use.

Kearns said the land bank was created under the Delaware County Redevelopment Authority and that the county used ARPA seed funding and sought EPA Revolving Loan Fund monies to support remediation efforts. \"We went after EPA revolving loan fund monies in order to be able to help clean up contaminated ground in the county,\" she said.

The land bank model Kearns described would allow the county to negotiate a pre-set price with the county treasurer to acquire parcels before they reach judicial sale, potentially preventing high-bid purchasers from obtaining property free of prior liens. Kearns used a 2023 example in which a municipality paid substantially more than a pre-set cap at auction: \"The winning bid was a hundred and 40 [thousand],\" she said, describing the cost municipalities faced without a pre-negotiated path.

Why it matters: District officials said parcels that stop paying taxes also tend not to contribute to neighborhood maintenance and can depress nearby property values. Kearns said the land bank’s aim is to stop that recurring cycle and return parcels to uses the municipality prefers — including open space, housing or commercial reuse — noting that \"productive use does not necessarily mean tax ratables.\" She added that if a parcel returns to taxable use, the land bank would split taxes with the municipality and school district for up to five years to fund the land bank’s activities.

Discussion and next steps: Committee members asked how the school district benefits financially and operationally. Kearns replied that many delinquent parcels have not paid school taxes for at least four years and that municipal ownership through the land bank could enable future taxable use or other community-desired outcomes. She said the land bank is completing sign-on agreements with municipalities and school districts and expects to act in the May judicial sale cycle: \"We should be able to actually act in this next judicial sale, which would be May,\" she said.

District staff indicated they would get specific draft language from Kearns. Mr. Deans said he will \"follow up with Laura tomorrow, to get the specific language\" for an intergovernmental cooperation agreement and a resolution and then add the item to the committee-of-the-whole and business meeting agendas for formal consideration.

Board members pressed for transparency and public information. Kearns said the land bank will publish property information and that the county is building a website and legal partners to ensure compliance with land bank law. Committee members also asked how disputes between a municipality and the land bank would be resolved; Kearns said the land bank intends to work \"in concert with\" municipal zoning and comprehensive plans and that she would consult other land banks about formal dispute mechanisms.

What was not decided: No vote or formal resolution was taken at the Feb. 7 meeting. District staff and the county will draft the intergovernmental agreement and proposed resolution for the board.

Ending: Committee members asked that the draft resolution and supporting language be included in the Friday board update and that the meeting video include timecodes for the presentation so absent board members can review it.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Property Committee Meeting - February 4, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Laura Goodrich Kearns, commerce director for Delaware County, told the William Penn School District Property Committee on Feb. 7 that the Delaware County Land Bank could acquire tax-delinquent parcels before judicial sale and work with municipalities to return them to productive use.","taxTitle","William Penn SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",55555,"location","Pennsylvania","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6343905,"Property committee reviews transportation savings, mini-pitch sponsorship, heating fixes, elevator grant and construction timelines",0,1640540,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2251573-4844b188feeb472ef2230df85543948b&start=1640&end=1640","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2251573-4844b188feeb472ef2230df85543948b/thumbnail_1640540.jpg","/articles/6343905/Pennsylvania/Property-committee-reviews-transportation-savings-mini-pitch-sponsorship-heating-fixes-elevator-grant-and-construction-timelines","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6343905-fe6244f7e10dee788df14bdcf9fd69a4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771160498&Signature=d-ITl7djlCtQSGY3HbwMNIh8Atr7DaNoG30WN8mCoDaET8jKulLv79g-OCMm6YQh2L3onxfGKyHq5dBzarKQzFkPIJjEW87Bq9ZoXg9ytyUceCwyYewYM6IYH3IV84pjeFxsqPkNhvg21FLyO2P1WDJRyxeFyctVnVaAsRxLQGr~Crkkw-Bg5SMZKFQ9y8txCmr68ywdViu3gCSTXYjm2fQpp9HfrIPedexoz3Agg~eHdJKLwLGGlZP56rtEGtikM2B0BlcOupOvUOT9lEwoGLVOR6uBreDOvr8MwB~NZDcV13TTm~bMPV-fvwCj4pEAZOD6Xwq7vDVoXk-PdMxHMg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","William Penn School District property staff updated the Feb. 7 Property Committee on transportation route reductions, progress on multiple facilities projects, and plans to study energy-efficiency financing.

Transportation savings: District staff reported that consolidation eliminated six third-party transportation routes and three in-district bus routes. The administration estimated a per-day savings of $2,316.87 and an annualized remaining-year savings of $243,271.35. Committee members asked whether the district could offer stipends to parents to transport students; staff said they are researching that option and will report back.

Mini pitch and sponsorships: Staff presented an aerial rendering of a donor- and sponsor-funded mini pitch to be installed near Bell Avenue’s basketball courts. The district said the project is fully funded through sponsorships and donors and will display sponsor logos on the surface. Committee members asked about structural details, spectator sightlines, foundation/prep work and coordination with the school principal and the borough; staff said they would provide vendor specifications and sample installations in the board update and confirm foundation and wall heights.

Heating and mechanical repairs: Staff said parts for two rooftop units at Park Lane arrived and, once installed, classroom temperatures dropped from roughly the 80s to the 70-degree range. At the Ninth Grade Academy, staff identified air infiltration at windows and through HVAC openings; they recaulked windows and added coverings for HVAC units, and plan in-house repairs (motors and actuators) where possible. At Green Avenue Campus, staff said problems are more complex and tied to building age, unit size and incomplete electrical drawings; they are conducting room-by-room assessments and plan further diagnostics with electrical tracing tools.

Energy-efficiency financing (GESA): Staff introduced the Guaranteed Energy Savings Act (GESA), a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania mechanism that lets school districts partner with energy service companies to finance energy-efficiency upgrades through guaranteed savings. The administration said it will study GESA opportunities over the next 30–45 days and report feasibility findings to the board.

Bell Avenue elevator grant and RFP timing: The district said it received about $495,000 in grant funding for a Bell Avenue elevator. KCBA Architects provided initial designs on Jan. 15; staff expects a total proposal in February and, if approved, will issue an RFP with construction targeted to begin after the 2025 school year ends and be completed during the summer. Staff clarified the intended in-service date is before the 2025–26 academic year.

Wall Street vestibule and other capital items: The Wall Street vestibule project, already in the capital budget, has a new general contractor after delays and will require a formal motion for the board. Staff said funds are captured in the capital budget and no new funds are requested, but formal board approval will be scheduled.

Facilities master-plan work and RFP for addition: Punch-list work at Evans and East Lansdowne completed about 95% of items; remaining work (notably repainting the East Lansdowne gym) is scheduled for summer due to dust and disruption. The district secured a zoning special exemption from Yeadon Borough to build an addition on existing school land; an RFP went live Jan. 6 and the district extended the submission deadline from Feb. 6 to Feb. 22 to broaden contractor interest. Staff will hold two community sessions with Yeadon Borough and attend a mayor’s forum in March.

Contract performance and procurement safeguards: Multiple board members requested stronger contract performance provisions and guardrails to limit cost overruns and ensure timely delivery; staff acknowledged the concerns and said the RFP process will include performance expectations.

Ending: No formal votes were taken on these items at the Feb. 7 meeting. Staff will provide vendor specifications, updated timelines and procurement language in upcoming board materials.","William Penn SD staff reported elimination of nine transportation routes with estimated daily savings of $2,316.87 and annual savings of about $243,271; discussed a donor-funded mini pitch with sponsor logos, heating repairs across three campuses, a $495,000 elevator grant at Bell Avenue and several construction RFPs and punch-list items","actionData","errors"]

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William Penn property committee hears Delaware County Land Bank presentation; resolution language to be drafted

Property committee reviews transportation savings, mini-pitch sponsorship, heating fixes, elevator grant and construction timelines