Luzerne County Government

January 22, 2010

No proposals to run Moon Lake Park

Last option means county will lay off four staffers for financial reasons.

By Jennifer Learn-Andes jandes@timesleader.com
Luzerne County Reporter
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Luzerne County did not receive any proposals from outside entities to run Moon Lake Park – the last option under consideration to keep the facility open.

The county’s 2010 budget eliminated all funding for the Plymouth Township park, and all four staffers will be laid off Jan. 29.

Commissioners had hoped to find someone willing to operate the 674-acre park at no cost to the county. The manager would have attempted to recoup costs by keeping revenue generated at the facility, which includes an Olympic-sized pool, a 100-acre lake, a nature center and a camping area.

Proposals to run the park were due Thursday morning.

Commissioner Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla said the park may be reopened in the future, when finances improve. She has said repeatedly that the county can’t justify funding non-essential services while raising taxes.

The 2010 budget increases taxes 10 percent, and taxes could be increased further when the budget is amended. A meeting is planned for Jan. 29 to introduce proposed budget adjustments.

“When we get out of this financial mess, we will bring all kinds of recreation back to the county,” Petrilla said Thursday.

Proposals also were due Thursday from property owners interested in leasing space to the county for record storage and house two district justice offices.

County Engineer Joe Gibbons said he received several responses to lease the county space for records storage in Wilkes-Barre and a district justice office in Hazleton. He received only one proposal for the Wilkes-Barre district justice office.

The county spends about $103,100 annually leasing the Thomas C. Thomas building on Union Street in Wilkes-Barre for records storage.

The county’s lease to house the office of District Judge Joe Zola in Hazleton has been criticized because it costs $6,545 per month, or $78,540 annually -- significantly more than most other magisterial office rents.

Zola’s office moved into a former restaurant on East Broad Street in 2006 after county officials shut down the old Hazleton annex on suspicion of mold, though the annex was later deemed safe. The 3,500 square-foot building is owned by Zola’s friend, Leonard Rossi, who bought the building for $150,000 in October 2005, records show. Zola has said he will relocate if commissioners find a better deal, as long as the space is suitable.

Commissioners also wanted to seek proposals for the Wilkes-Barre magisterial office that had been held by District Judge William Amesbury, who is now a county judge, because that space cost about $80,000 annually.

Gibbons said he will review and score the proposals. Commissioners could vote on proposed changes as early as February, he said.

He is also reviewing two proposals from real estate companies interested in selling county property. The county’s previous broker, Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services, did not apply, Gibbons said. The company had charged the county a 6 percent commission, but only if the property sold.

The company hired by commissioners will likely try to sell the former Valley Crest Nursing Home property in Plains Township.

Jennifer Learn-Andes, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 831-7333.

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