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FAITH IN LUZERNE County government can erode in much the same manner that a sandy beach is worn away by the tides and weather.
There infrequently will be a hurricane or tsunami, like the ongoing corruption probe that leaves a lasting impression on the political landscape.
Then there are storms that occur at varying intervals: the debit card scandal, contract piecemealing and lapses in policy oversights that strike with power but are pushed aside and forgotten after remedies supposedly are implemented.
But the seemingly small problems that crop up regularly are among the most troublesome because they, like the waves that pound constantly at the beach’s sand, can do serious damage over the long haul.
One of those is the Hazleton Broad Street Exchange Building’s appearance on Luzerne County’s Sept. 16 back-tax sale listing reported in Wednesday’s edition of The Times Leader. The landmark property, owned by the nonprofit organization called The Alliance to Revitalize Center City Hazleton, has not paid $188,509 in taxes dating back to 2001. Three years ago the property was pulled from a tax sale because the nonprofit owner also owes a county office more than $1.8 million on loans and the city of Hazleton $290,000.
Because the property is the nonprofit’s only major asset, and only means of paying its debts, the county has agreed to maintain control of the building and collect rent from tenants until 2015.
Justly or not, that raises questions about the tax list accuracy: How does a property like this, one with a public history and a growing public debt, get on the tax sale list where it might have gone for a steal to the highest bidder? What would have happened if the oversight wasn’t caught? Are there other properties that should be on the list but aren’t?
County Commissioner Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla told our reporter she doesn’t know how or why this happened.
While she’s investigating, it might be a good idea to recheck the list and then revisit other areas of county operations to ensure controls are being followed.
After all, erosion can be easily overlooked on a daily basis, but it’s often difficult and expensive to repair the cumulative effect.