web1_TTL060619mine2.jpg

A photo, scraps of historic papers: Descendants join memorial for lost miners

web1_garden6.jpg

Volunteers spruce upButterfly Garden

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; In a quicker repeat of last month&#8217;s meeting, city council on Wednesday approved an ordinance to extend the life of the Wilkes-Barre Parking Authority until 2058.</p><p>Council met for approximately two minutes in a special session called to vote on the second and final reading of the ordinance needed to keep the authority alive, so to speak, and balance the city&#8217;s 2019 budget. </p><p>The vote was 5-0, identical to the tally from the May 28 meeting. No one spoke during the public comment period for pending legislation. The ordinance goes into effect 10 days after its approval.</p><p>By correcting an administrative oversight that went unnoticed since Aug. 18, 2008, the ordinance allows the authority to conduct business for another 50 years and purchase the Park &amp; Lock East parkade from the city for $1.55 million.</p><p>The city included proceeds from the sale along with the annual $150,000 payment from the authority that operates parking garages and a surface lot as revenue in its $50.4 million general fund budget.</p><p>The sale of the parking garage at North Washington and East Market streets should be closed &#8220;before the end of the month,&#8221; Tom Torbik, executive director of the authority, said Wednesday. The authority holds its next public meeting at noon June 18 inside the offices of the Park &amp; Lock North parkade at 30 N. Main St.</p><p>The lapsed renewal was discovered during the preparation of documents to close the sale, Torbik said last month. The authority remained in compliance with the Pennsylvania Department of State since the lapse and the ordinance will ensure its records are in order, the city said.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_ParkingGarage.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">An ordinance approved by Wilkes-Barre city council Wednesday gave the go ahead for the Wilkes-Barre Parking Authority to buy the Park & Lock East parkade on East Market and North Washington Street from the city for $1.5 million. Times Leader file photo</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_ParkingGarage.jpg</photo0><caption0>An ordinance approved by Wilkes-Barre city council Wednesday gave the go ahead for the Wilkes-Barre Parking Authority to buy the Park & Lock East parkade on East Market and North Washington Street from the city for $1.5 million. Times Leader file photo</caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jerry Lynott</p><p>jlynott@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLJerryLynott.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Ordinance approved, sale of parkade to Wilkes-Barre Parking Authority next