Luzerne County Government

Latest Headlines

August 11, 2008

Military service helps Brace retire

WILKES-BARRE – Departing Luzerne County Deputy Chief Clerk Bill Brace will rent a third-floor office at City Hall when he begins his state job within a week, Mayor Tom Leighton said.

August 9, 2008

Brace ‘retires’ to state job

WILKES-BARRE – Bill Brace is retiring again – this time from his $56,649.98 job as Luzerne County deputy chief clerk.

July 18, 2008

Vonderheid owes back tax

WILKES-BARRE – Renters of a property owned by former Luzerne County commissioner Todd Vonderheid have defaulted on their 2006 real estate taxes, according to Vonderheid. Court papers were filed Thursday against Vonderheid.

July 9, 2008

Guesto threatens to sue Petrilla

WILKES-BARRE – Tired of what he says are false and defamatory statements being made about him by Commissioner Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla, former Luzerne County Chief Clerk Sam Guesto has notified the county he might file a lawsuit if the disparaging comments do not stop.

July 5, 2008

TL’s lawsuit against commissioners reinstated

WILKES-BARRE – A Luzerne County judge has reinstated The Times Leader’s lawsuit against two county commissioners who challenged their vote in 2006 to postpone reassessment.

June 25, 2008

County closes on $87M+ bond deal

Luzerne County Commissioners now have $72 million to fund capital projects and debt.

June 20, 2008

County early retirement plan OK’d

The Luzerne County Retirement Board voted Thursday to ratify an early-retirement incentive that had been adopted Wednesday by county commissioners.

June 17, 2008

County may offer 368 early retirement

Luzerne County commissioners plan to vote Wednesday to offer an early retirement incentive to 368 employees.

June 17, 2008

Bond-package deal nears for county

Luzerne County is about to close on a bond package that had been stalled by Wilkes-Barre resident Tim Grier’s legal challenge, county officials say.

May 21, 2008

Hunsinger may see penalty

Luzerne County Commissioners are expected to vote tonight to take disciplinary action against county purchasing director Greg Hunsinger in connection with prison piecemealing.

April 25, 2008

Ninety absentee ballots missed deadline, Luzerne County Commissioner Stephen Urban said

WILKES-BARRE - Luzerne County Commissioners Greg Skrepenak and Stephen A. Urban voted this morning to rescind an absentee ballot extension.

April 17, 2008

Commissioners halt bigger jail

Luzerne County Commissioners voted Wednesday to halt a larger prison design that wasn’t authorized by a public board vote.

April 16, 2008

Urban: Guesto should pay bill

If Luzerne County has to pay more for an unauthorized prison expansion, former chief clerk/manager Sam Guesto should foot the bill, county minority Commissioner Stephen A. Urban said Tuesday.

April 7, 2008

Petrilla says she is breaking away joint campaign committee with Skrep

Luzerne County Commissioner Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla announced Monday that she is breaking away from the joint campaign committee with fellow Democratic Commissioner Greg Skrepenak.

March 29, 2008

Skrep: Pals wrongly accused

Luzerne County Commissioner Greg Skrepenak said he’s confident nobody intentionally ignored bidding laws to steer $865,062 in prison purchases to Commonwealth Foods Inc.

March 28, 2008

Commissioners want county health dept.

Luzerne County Commissioners voted Wednesday to seek state approval to create a county health department, on the condition they may back out if they determine it’s not feasible.

March 11, 2008

Home rule push may be revived

Luzerne County Commissioner Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla said she has been contacted by people who want to revive the push for a home rule form of county government.

February 28, 2008

Pape gets county clerk/manager post

The Luzerne County Commissioners appointed Doug Pape to the county's chief clerk/manager position at a special meeting today.

February 22, 2008

Skrep: Debit card usage not criminal

Luzerne County Commissioner Greg Skrepenak went back and forth with three residents during Thursday’s meeting when they sought the termination of employees who had county debit cards.

February 7, 2008

Defender’s office finds cash for experts

January 29, 2008

Controller bid: Brominski in, Piazza out

January 24, 2008

Defenders say office is strapped

January 24, 2008

Ex-commissioner praises Guesto

January 11, 2008

Row office hikes to be eyed