Carroll Township stands to benefit from Act 101
By ERIC SEIVERLING
eseiverling@yourmvi.com
Carroll Township supervisors moved one step closer to a move they hope will bring more revenue to the area.
At their public meeting Tuesday, supervisors gave township Solicitor Herman Bigi the go-ahead to review the statewide Act 101, a new piece of legislation that will help municipalities combat blighted and abandoned properties with absentee owners.
According to the state Senate, negligent property owners are able to avoid code violations and the associated fines for bringing their property into compliance.
The forthcoming legislation seeks to put owners of condemned properties and their prospective buyers on notice by issuing condemnation orders against the property. It also requires all purchasers to be held accountable for corrective actions.
Bigi said he’s been in contact with the township’s zoning officer, Dennis Butler, to identify blighted properties in Carroll Township.
“I’ve been working with Dennis to get the names and addresses of all those properties to promulgate some kind of order or to get them on record,” he said. “Then when those properties are up for a tax sale, if someone buys it, we’ll get our money. Otherwise, you’re not going to see it.
“You can put just a lien on it, but nobody’s going to pay that. That is something (the state) is trying to do to help recover some finances for the subdivisions. Dennis and I are working on that and as soon as he gets me the names and addresses, we’re going to put these orders on record. Therefore, (properties) cannot be sold in a county tax sale without the municipality getting their money.”
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