12/23/16
by News Department on 12/23/16New steps towards stopping blight...
State Sen. David G. Argall said Thursday that two new statewide anti-blight measures should help authorities in Schuylkill County fight decaying buildings.
According to the Republican Herald, Argall, R-29, said that starting in January 2017, counties will be able to add a $15 fee to the recording of a deed or mortgage, with the money devoted to fixing or demolishing rundown buildings.
Argall, the prime sponsor of the bill, said that alone should raise approximately $140,000 in this county, with more to follow in other anti-blight measures.
The other measure, sponsored by state Rep. Neal P. Goodman, D-123, reduces the amount of time the buyer of a blighted property has to correct known code violations to 12 months from 18 months and imposes a minimum $1,000 and maximum $10,000 fine on the buyer for each uncorrected violation.
