SHENANDOAH HEIGHTS — The Girard Estate demolition program in West Mahanoy Township will continue in 2016 with six more dilapidated properties being razed.
At Tuesday’s meeting, the West Mahanoy supervisors approved the demolition list of six abandoned properties in the villages of William Penn, Lost Creek and Brownsville. The vacant structures are located on leased land owned by Girard Estate, which pays the demolition costs.
In order to qualify, the houses have to be abandoned for years, are not half of a double-block structure unless both sides are being demolished and there are no taxes or a lease being paid.
This is the sixth year for the demolition program partnership. Girard Estate has demolished 30 structures in the past five years.
The following six houses were approved for the 2016 blight project:
• 1145 W. Coal St., Brownsville.
• 1160 W. Centre St., Brownsville.
• 55 Mount Olive Blvd., William Penn.
• 91 Mount Olive Blvd., William Penn.
• 23 Elliot St., William Penn.
• 19 Colorado Road, Lost Creek.
Township Chairman Paul “Pepper” Martin said the demolition work has not been scheduled.
Martin said the deadline for police chief applications to fill the vacancy left with the resignation of Chief Shawn Tray was Friday. The supervisors approved the advertising for the position at the February meeting.
With the warmer weather, Martin said many people will be doing work around their properties, and reminded them to contact the municipal building for any building and/or maintenance permits that may be necessary.
“They should call the township to get the correct permits,” Martin said.
Martin also reminded landlords and tenants that a township ordinance requires occupancy permits for rental properties. The supervisors adopted the 19-page ordinance in 2013.
The ordinance (2013-3) titled the “West Mahanoy Township Rental License and Inspection Code” requires the licensing and inspection of residential rental properties, payment of licensing and inspection fees, suspension and revocation of rental licenses, along with penalties and enforcement.
Hotels and motels are excluded from the ordinance.
The ordinance states the requirement for a rental license:
“It shall be unlawful for any person to occupy, allow to be occupied, advertise for occupancy, or solicit occupants of any residential rental property within the township without a rental license. The property owner or agent of each rental property shall register each rental unit with the code department and shall pay the required registration fee.”
Martin said it is necessary for the rental property owner to report to the township when there are new tenants.
“Occupancy permits are necessary,” Martin said. “If someone is renting a property, the owner must report in to us so we can inspect the building and the rentee must register with us. This is just a reminder to people.”