Two real estate exemptions were denied by the Lycoming County Commissioners acting as the Board of Assessment Revisions.

The Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses had requested an exemption for part of their property on Cemetery Road because they felt it was unusable. The assessed value of that portion of their property is $35.180.

“This parcel is split into two parcels. One part is tax exempt, which is the church and parking lot and that’s 5.33 acres. That’s all tax exempt,” said Brooke Wright, the county’s chief assessor.

The other part is the hillside and water retention pond, which the church had asked to be exempt from taxes.

“That part is not used for church purposes and that is the reason why it’s taxable,” she said.

Wright cited the property where Wildwood Cemetery is located. The cemetery is tax exempt, but the 69 acres of woods around it are not taxable, she explained.

The other request for tax exemption that was denied was filed by the George Henry Whaley Jr. Private Express Trust for a property at 675-677 Campbell St.

“In 2021 he filed a real estate exception, claiming he was a micro-nation. This property is a two-story duplex house where he resides. He just thinks he’s a non-profit agency,” Wright said.

She noted that she had tried to contact Whaley but was unsuccessful.

The commissioners also approved a grant monitoring agreement with the Lycoming County Fair Association in the amount of $260,000 in ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funding for constructing a 6,000 square foot pole building, which will be used to show animals and host cultural events throughout the year, according to John Lavelle, deputy director at the county’s Planning and Community Development department.

The commissioners had set aside monies from the ARPA funds to support the agricultural community in the county and this is part of that.

“This is part of a menu of different projects that we’re working on,” Lavelle said.

Brett Taylor, head of the county’s planning commission was on hand and detailed some of the projects, including a mobile agricultural lab and 3-D headsets to bring farm tours to students virtually.

In other actions, the commissioners also approved an Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Power grant agreement with ARC in the amount of $1,867,395, for the Riverwalk Extension. The plan is to extend the walk from Elm Park to Reach Road.

Other actions included approval of: a revised change order for the contract with H&P Construction to correct a mathematical error for work being done for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance at polling sites; an amendment to the Letter of Intent (LOI) with Chance Aluminum to extend the closing date; an engagement letter with Hickman Consulting; and a bill of sale for surplus computer equipment in the amount of $6,200.

Under personnel, the following persons were hired for the positions at the rates of pay listed: Alexandria Horafus, adult probation officer, $21.81 per hour; Mary Peterman, custodial worker in facilities management, $13.41 per hour; Mercedes Beck, licensed practical nurse at the prison, $30 per hour; Kristin Tarantella, paralegal in the Public Defender’s office, $19.66 per hour; Geovanna Daniele, assistant public defender, union, $62,315 per year.

The next commissioners’ meeting will be at 10 a.m., Oct. 24, in the Commissioners’ Board Room, 3rd floor, Third Street Plaza, 33 West Third St.