Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Finance Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County approves LERTA abatement, contract-management system and several infrastructure awards
Summary
The board approved a sliding-scale LERTA tax abatement for a Scranton developer, awarded contract-management software and multiple road and bridge construction contracts, and approved smaller service agreements.
The Lackawanna County Board of Commissioners on March 18 approved a package of fiscal and procurement items, including a LERTA tax-exemption resolution for a Scranton redevelopment, a contract-management software purchase, and several roads-and-bridges construction awards.
Tax abatement: By resolution 26-0065 the board granted a LERTA real-estate tax abatement for improvements at 1002, 1012 and 1014 Wheeler Avenue in Scranton (applicant: Christian Nicholas, CKP LLC). The resolution designates the described area as a deteriorated area and establishes a 10-year sliding-scale abatement that begins at 90% in year one and reduces to 5% in year 10, tied to issuance of a city occupancy permit.
Technology and services: The board approved a $20,000 contract for a centralized contract-management system with DebtBook (2026 annual cost), describing the purchase as necessary to consolidate contracts, improve notifications and increase oversight.
Infrastructure awards: The county awarded multiple construction contracts following public bidding: the Spring Drive culvert replacement to WZE Construction for $357,264.40 (approx. one-year timeline after notice to proceed); the Old Mill Road bridge replacement in Jefferson Township to Mini Construction for about $917,000 (approx. 18-month timeline); and Main Street retaining wall stabilization and mill-and-overlay to Fabcore, Inc. for $887,913.80. Commissioners noted projects were budgeted and that early bidding produced favorable pricing.
Other approvals: The board authorized elevator service and inspection agreements (Otis Elevator, Bureau Veritas) and approved UPS battery-backup maintenance at $3,999 per year. Several appointments to county advisory boards were confirmed.
Votes and next steps: Each resolution was adopted during the meeting; text of motions, sponsoring commissioners and individual vote tallies were not recorded verbatim in the public transcript. Staff will carry the awarded contracts to execution and schedule the construction notices to proceed.
