The Tamaqua Area school board will consider allowing the Schuylkill County Land Bank to acquire three properties in Tamaqua, in hopes of getting them sold and back on the tax rolls.

Solicitor Erik Helbing said that the properties have or will have liens from the county’s demolition against them, and they will try to get them satisfied and back on the tax rolls for Tamaqua Area.

“Truth be told, the lot will only probably be sold to the neighbors to enlarge their yardage, but it’s better than having vacant land that’s not doing anything for us on the tax rolls,” he said.

The properties have $40,000 in liens against them — $10,000 in attorney fees and costs and $30,000 in demolition fees, said Connie Ligenza, business manager. Without the land bank, the demolition liens impede any sale, Helbing said.

“The liens are worth more than the property will ever get,” he said. “They’re just going to sit vacant forever, otherwise.”

Helbing needs to notify the county, and get the matter on the county commissioners’ agenda.

“The borough already signed off on it,” he said.

The board will consider the action at its meeting next week.

Discussion

In other business, the school board committees discussed:

• Approving a request from Mark Beltz, band director, to take the Raider Marching Band to the Disney World Theme Park parade in 2027. Superintendent Ray Kinder said the band goes every six years, which allows all band members an opportunity go during their time with the band. Beltz would like to permission to be able to start fundraising.

• Ratifying an agreement with LearnWell to provide educational services at the time of admittance to a medical facility.

• Paying bills of $2,961,375.09 for November, and interim bills of $1,038,495.45.

• Approving the 2023 tax exemption form as presented. Ligenza said there were no changes from last year.

• Appointing John Hurst, business administrator for Mahanoy Area School District, as the district’s second alternate on the Act 32 Tax Collections Commission. Ligenza would remain the primary delegate, with board President Larry Wittig as first alternative.

• Approving the 2023-24 Special Education Service Agreement with the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit No. 29 at $401,270 for its projected amount.

• Approving a contract with Latshaw Landscaping for the Tamaqua Area Elementary School top dressing and aeration, at a cost of $12,000. A donation from the soccer association will cover half the cos. Work hasn’t been performed on the fields in about six years.

• Approving a two-year agreement with no changes in rates for the PSEA vision contract.

• Authorizing the purchase of a used New Holland L175 skid loader at a cost of $20,900.

• Approving repairs to the middle school elevator by Reading Elevator Services, a COSTARS vendor, at a cost of $22,959.