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Luzerne County may support state grant application for new childhood trauma facility

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Their view: Green New Deal would spend US into oblivion

<p>The new 11th Luzerne County Council member is set to be selected Tuesday.</p><p>The 12 applicants who were publicly interviewed for the seat vacated by Edward Brominski, which must be filled with a Democrat: Patrick Bilbow, Dominic Butchko, Gene Camoni, Martin Dartoe, Hal Gabriel, Michael Giamber, James Kennedy, Lois Komensky, Elaine Maddon Curry, Bonnie Markowski, Michael McGlynn and Eileen Sorokas.</p><p>Council members will choose their new colleague during their voting meeting, which starts at 6 p.m. at the county courthouse on River Street in Wilkes-Barre.</p><p>During the meeting, county Manager C. David Pedri also will present a &#8220;state of the county&#8221; report required by the home rule charter.</p><p><strong>Tax bills</strong></p><p>County and municipal 2019 real estate tax bills will be issued Feb. 13 in five municipalities &#8212; Jeddo and the townships of Buck, Conyngham, Dennison and Ross, said county Treasurer&#8217;s Office Manager/Tax Administrator Laura Beers.</p><p>The bill mailing was delayed in these five municipalities because they had not submitted full reports on their unpaid 2018 taxes before the Jan. 28 bill printing cutoff, Beers has said.</p><p>Property owners in these five municipalities will save 2 percent on both county and municipal bills if they pay by April 12. The law allows an additional two months, or until June 12, to pay at the full or face amount before a penalty kicks in.</p><p>Bills have not been mailed to Courtdale property owners because the tax collector resigned. Borough officials must appoint a new collector.</p><p><strong>New hires</strong></p><p>Twelve county employees were hired in January, according to Pedri&#8217;s monthly personnel report.</p><p>The new workers and their hourly pay: Alicia Gioia, Children and Youth caseworker, $19.02; Rachael Grube, senior mapping GIS analyst, $25.64; Zachary Hill, aging agency accountant, $17.38; Brian Howe, building/grounds custodial worker, $12.75; Annmarie Jenkins, district attorney clerk, $14.17; Rosemary Krispin, alternate senior center manager, $13.91; Janice Lewis, part-time aging agency case aide, $13.91; Judiann McGrogan, prothonotary clerk, $15.95; Mary Phillips, court master, $37.91; Mara Stella, solicitor administration support, $20; Dane Whitesell, road/bridge mechanic, $12.02; and Lance Wren, prison correctional officer, $25.15.</p><p><strong>Departures</strong></p><p>Among the county workers resigning in January: 911 telecommunicators Julie Ann Bunch and Michael Meeker, correctional officer Anthony Desando and Children and Youth caseworkers Karrie Horsfield and Rosita Quintana-Delgado.</p><p>Three workers retired: aging agency care manager Angelo Grasso Jr., tourism executive director Janet Hall and building/grounds lead worker Nicholas Veet.</p><p><strong>Promotions</strong></p><p>Six employees advanced to new positions during the month.</p><p>The workers, their new job titles and hourly compensation: Edilma Maylone and Gary McGee, Children and Youth caseworkers, $19.02; Sherry Middleton, sheriff clerk, $18.61; Adam Mihalchik, prison desk sergeant, $30.26; Jennifer Tinner, mental health/developmental services caseworker, $17.83; and Debra Warkevicz, prothonotary clerk, $22.08.</p><p><strong>Board vacancies</strong></p><p>Robert Sax has resigned from an unpaid seat on the county Housing Authority, citing a work conflict, council&#8217;s meeting agenda says. Joseph Sperrazza also resigned from the Children and Youth Advisory Board for personal reasons.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Luzerne County Courthouse </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_web1_luzerne-county-courthouse-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Luzerne County Courthouse </caption0><photoCredit0></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></shirttailMeta></div>

Luzerne County Council members picking new colleague Tuesday