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Cambria County approves resolution to remove blight

The Cambria County commissioners approved a resolution Thursday that offers a small step to removing blight in the county.

“Everywhere I go in the county — I go to borough meetings regularly — I hear about blight all the time. It’s a common problem in every borough and municipality,” President Commissioner Tom Chernisky said.

Through a law signed by Gov. Tom Wolf in November, Chernisky estimates Cambria County can remove close to 10 publicly owned, blighted properties per year.

Wolf signed the Recorder of Deeds Fee Law that authorizes a special deed and mortgage recording fee in certain counties for the establishment of county demolition funds.

The commissioners approved a resolution on Thursday authorizing an additional $15 fee to be charged on deeds and mortgages recorded in the Recorder of Deeds Office. That fee is to be deposited in a demolition fund.

Earlier this month, the commissioners had been urged by South Fork Borough Council to participate in the program under the Recorder of Deeds Fee Law.

The law requires the county to file an initial report with the Department of Community and Economic Development within 90 days that will include a plan on how the revenue received under the law will be spent, how many properties will likely be demolished and any other information that would be relevant to the demolition program of the county.

The use of the fund must be reported annually to DCED. The report shall include how many properties were demolished, the cost of demolition per property and any other information that would be relevant to the demolition program of the county.

The Cambria County Redevelopment Authority will administer the program.

“We’ve been hearing issues about blight, and everyone talks about how there is no money to do anything about it,” Chernisky said. “But this resolution is a step in right direction. A small step.”

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