WHEN I MOVED back here two years ago, I was struck by a number of things that had changed and also by a few that had not.

Harveys Lake, for instance, is dramatically different than I recall it being 25 years ago. For one thing, it is clean and healthy. You may remember when there was a chance the lake might “die” – or at least that was the prediction of some environmentalists years ago.

The price of housing at the lake has risen dramatically. Beautiful and grand homes graced the community years ago, but now there are more of them. New-home construction continues with almost each one more elaborate than the last built.

And the boat houses?

Many of us would gladly live full-time in some of them.

Among those things that appear to have remained largely the same is local government, particularly county government. It was at best bumbling and at worst corrupt 25 years ago. Today’s county commission, lead by Maryanne Petrilla, is trying to rid itself of its poor image but problems still abound.

The changes or lack of them in these areas is no more readily apparent than the current reassessment fiasco. And it is a fiasco.

And now we have a colossal fight over an example of change and growth – Harveys Lake – and an institution that has not changed much in its ability to handle complex problems – county government.

Some residents of the lake are talking about hosting their own Boston Tea Party. They want to protest the new proposed taxes by rebelling and seceding to Wyoming County.

Reassessment has hit Harveys Lake like a typhoon. It’s a tax tsunami.

As reported in last week’s Times Leader, “Assessed property values in Harveys Lake as a whole increased about 205 percent, or about $518 million – more than tripling its assessed value – after the reassessment.”

One problem for the 3,000 residents appears obvious. Those living in modest homes, some even in trailer homes, are being hit with the reality that they are living on highly valued, expensive property. The properties in many cases are worth more than the home on them. If the owners sold these homes, some buyers would more than likely tear them down and build new and more expensive ones.

The proposed rebellion is interesting historically. Luzerne County split off from Northumberland in 1789.That was only 16 years after about 200 men in Boston, dressed as Indians, dumped the cargo of tea from three boats into Boston Harbor.

What’s that saying about the more things change, the more they remain the same?

Maybe the angry residents could hold their own party and meet in the middle of Harveys Lake, dumping their reassessment notices overboard.

Those bills won’t make the splash made by boxes of tea, but the symbolism will be just as strong.

The secession story in The Times Leader drew more than 40 e-mail comments and responses on our Website. Some were hilarious. Some show the divide between what is seen as the haves and the have-nots. Sweeping generalizations were made accusing all of the lake residents of being rich and spoiled and too cheap to pay their fair share.

One comment came from “The Back Mountain Separatists,” which I found clever and amusing.

There is one glaring problem with the idea of secession. It is not clear that taxes in Wyoming County for Harveys Lake residents would be any lower.

Be careful what you wish for, I guess we could warn.

Secession will not work, and it’s a poor way to try to solve the inequity problems in this reassessment.

There’s a way to patiently work our way out of this, and it is possible that the new leadership in county government will find a solution. We’d all agree, I am certain, that it is high time for county government to join the rest of us in the 21st Century and rid itself of the ills and sins of the past.

About the Author

Richard L. Connor is Editor and Publisher of the Times Leader and president of Wilkes-Barre Publishing Company.

Richard L. Connor is Editor and Publisher of The Times Leader. Mr. Connor’s career in the newspaper business spans nearly 40 years in four states and in a variety of positions including editor, publisher and owner.

In June of 2006, Mr. Connor formed The Wilkes-Barre Publishing Company, purchased The Times Leader and returned to the post he previously held from 1978 to 1986.

He has worked for several media companies, including 25 years as an executive with Capital Cities Communications, later Cap Cities/ABC and then the Walt Disney Company. During that time he served for over 10 years as President and Publisher of The Fort Worth Star-Telegram in Fort Worth, TX.

His work to have his newspapers not only serve the community as a voice of needed change but also to build bridges among its leaders and diverse forces has been recognized constantly for its unique brand of media leadership. He has won numerous awards as a columnist and for his editorials and has received a number of awards for his newspaper and community leadership and achievement. He has served on numerous community and industry boards, including two times as a member of the Pulitzer Prize Nominating Committee.

He resides in the Back Mountain with his wife, Deborah, and daughter, Meredith. Mr. Connor also has two adult children.

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