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Wilkes University Graduation List

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Fans thankful to see ‘Greatest Show on Earth’ one final time

<p>Topping the latest big-ticket property assessment reductions in Luzerne County are the Blue Ridge Trail Golf Club and an adjoining tract proposed for a residential development in Dorrance Township, according to the county manager&#8217;s newly released April refund report.</p><p>The combined assessment of the five parcels was lowered from $5.19 million to $3.4 million, or a reduction of $1.79 million, records show. The properties total 851 acres.</p><p>As a result of the reduction, the county had to refund $39,553 in taxes from 2013 through 2016, which does not include the return of school and municipal taxes, the manager&#8217;s report says. Assessment reductions and refunds date back to the date a challenge was filed.</p><p>Golf course owner TFP Limited worked with a consultant experienced in golf course values and determined an assessment reduction was warranted, said company representative Robert S. Tamburro.</p><p>Blue Ridge Trail is the only 27-hole course in the county and one of a few 27-hole layouts in Pennsylvania. Most are located in the western part of state.</p><p>TFP Limited owned all five properties but transferred ownership of the four directly tied to the golf course to The Preserve at Blue Ridge LLC for $1 in March. The remaining 499-acre tract proposed for a housing project remains in TFP ownership.</p><p>However, The Preserve at Blue Ridge is still under the Wilkes-Barre Township-based TFP&#8217;s umbrella, Tamburro said.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s the same family ownership, just a different structure,&#8221; he explained.</p><p>Plans for a housing project on the 499-acre parcel have not received township approval.</p><p>Tamburro said his company continues to gather and furnish information township officials have requested to make an informed decision on the plans to construct 193 housing units on 213 acres.</p><p>Some adjacent property owners have opposed the development, citing concerns about the availability of a public water system and other issues.</p><p>The second-highest reduction was for The Woodlands Inn, a hotel and entertainment complex on Route 315 in Plains Township. Its assessment was lowered by $900,000, <a href="http://www.luzernecounty.org/uploads/images/assets/county/county-manager/2017_Tax_Refunds/April%20Refunds.pdf" target="_blank">the manager&#8217;s report said</a>.</p><p>Owned by Rokom Inc., the assessment was reduced from $7.9 million to $7 million, county property records show. The complex is on 19.49 acres.</p><p>The reduction required the county to refund $19,895 in taxes paid by Rokom Inc. from 2013 to 2016.</p><p>Two other commercial properties received reductions:</p><p>&#8226; The assessment of InterMetro Industries Corp.&#8217;s research center and offices in the Parsons section of Wilkes-Barre was lowered from $1.547 million to $1.25 million, or $297,400. The property is 2.11 acres.</p><p>The county refund: $12,495 from 2009 through 2016.</p><p>&#8226; Weis Markets Inc.&#8217;s grocery store on Route 309 in Dallas is now assessed at $2.15 million, a reduction of $436,500, resulting in a $7,373 refund covering 2014 through 2016 for the 3.25-acre parcel.</p><p>In all, the April refunds totaled $79,316.</p><p>The county had spent $76,000 on refunds through March, bringing the year-to-date total to $155,316.</p><p>The administration had proposed budgeting $750,000 to cover refunds in 2017, but council cut the allocation to $550,000.</p><p>At the urging of council, county court officials have been stepping up efforts to adjudicate and resolve larger commercial appeals filed years ago, some at the time of the 2009 countywide reassessment. Timely resolution is in the county&#8217;s interest because refunds for multiple years create a budget liability, officials have said.</p><p>County Budget/Finance Division Head Brian Swetz said the county spent about $450,000 on refunds last year. Staying within this year&#8217;s allocation may be &#8220;tight&#8221; because of the push to close out lingering appeals, he said.</p><p>County Manager C. David Pedri is confident the allocation will be enough.</p><p>&#8220;I feel we&#8217;ll be in the budgeted range,&#8221; he said.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">The Woodlands Inn in Plains Township is among several commercial properties that received an assessment reduction in April. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_TTL020615woodlands.jpg</photo0><caption0>The Woodlands Inn in Plains Township is among several commercial properties that received an assessment reduction in April. </caption0><photoCredit0>Times Leader file photo </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jennifer Learn-Andes</p><p>jandes@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or on Twitter @TLJenLearnAndes.</p><p>For other local news stories, <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/category/local" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">click here</a>.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Golf course and several other Luzerne County properties receive assessment reductions