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Luzerne County Redevelopment Authority mulls selling rail from train tracks

<p>Two defaulted loans made by Luzerne County&#8217;s community development office have been referred to the county&#8217;s law office for resolution, according to the latest county division head report.</p><p>Maers BBQ in Wilkes-Barre, which abruptly closed in January 2015, owes the community development loan fund $30,162, county records show.</p><p>Corporate Buyers Guide Inc., an online business that was aimed at attaching industrial equipment suppliers to purchasing agents, owes the loan fund $34,732, records show.</p><p>Prior county commissioners had approved both loans.</p><p>Maers stopped repaying in November 2014, and Corporate Buyers made its last payment in October 2012, officials said.</p><p>Among the other updates in the report, which was submitted to the council for discussion at Tuesday&#8217;s meeting:</p><p>&#8226; A five-member committee will be scheduling interviews of financial institutions interested in handling county banking.</p><p>PNC Bank has handled the county&#8217;s banking since September 2013. The administration sought proposals trying to obtain additional savings.</p><p>&#8226; State officials completed an inspection of the county&#8217;s Children and Youth agency and held an exit interview to discuss preliminary review of its inspection findings.</p><p>The county agency is on its third provisional license due to issues found in state inspection reports. State law allows a maximum of four consecutive provisional certificates.</p><p>&#8226; A county deputy sheriff certified to provide training in the use of batons, pepper spray and handcuffs is creating a training program for county security guards. All security officers are expected to be trained in these weapons by July.</p><p>&#8226; Renovations are underway at the county-owned Broad Street Exchange building in downtown Hazleton to provide probation services in the county&#8217;s southern half. The project is expected to be completed at the end of April.</p><p>&#8226; The Solid Waste Management office has mailed information to all 76 municipalities about financial assistance available if they opt to provide electronics recycling collections for their residents. Four municipalities have expressed interest in hold collections to date.</p><p>&#8226; The county Veteran Affairs office is working with the National Auto Body Association to provide a reconditioned car to an area veteran in need.</p><p>&#8226; The administration is preparing to bid out a project to replace and install directional signs inside and outside the courthouse. County Manager C. David Pedri initiated the customer service plan, saying many visitors need more help finding their destinations.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jennifer Learn-Andes</p><p>jandes@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p>If you go</p><p>The Luzerne County Council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the county courthouse on River Street in Wilkes-Barre.</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p><ins>For other local news stories, <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/category/local" target="_blank">click here</a>.</ins></p><p>Reach Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or on Twitter @TLJenLearnAndes.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Luzerne County solicitors reviewing outstanding community development loans