Lycoming Mall in hot water due to unpaid bills
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The Lycoming Mall in Muncy Township is again set to go up for a sheriff's sale for failure to pay water and sewer bills of nearly $240,000.
The mall was last at risk of a sheriff's sale in 2019 for the same reason.
According to Christine Weigle, executive director of Lycoming County Water and Sewer Authority, the sheriff's sale is a last resort effort to collect the overdue payment.
"Our hope is to resolve the matter before the sheriff's sale," Weigle said. "We are simply trying to recover the water and sewer fees."
Kohan Retail Investment Group, owner of Lycoming Mall, will have to pay the owed bill in full in order to stop the sale slated for May 6, Weigle said.
Weigle is said to be in continual communication with the investment group as they continue to try and resolve the overdue payment issue.
"Either way, a payment needs to be made in full before the sheriff sale on May 6," Weigle said. "The sheriff's sale is the last step that we would do."
Mike Kohan, founder and CEO of Kohan Retail Investment Group, has assured that the bill will be paid in full on March 16.
"We see that the property is extremely valuable; we certainly hope they can repurpose it. Having a long-time partnership, we would certainly like to see it be repurposed and useful again," Weigle said.
The water authority has been working with a number of customers who have been struggling during COVID-19.
"During COVID, it's been difficult for a number of our consumers. Retail has taken a significant hit," Weigle said.
There are 25 businesses currently listed on the Lycoming mall website, including Best Buy, which will be closing on March 5.