A fund created by the Blair County commissioners to aid with the removal of blighted properties will receive more money as of July 1, according to action taken by the county board on Thursday.

The commissioners doubled a fee collected by the Blair County Recorder of Deeds on all mortgages and deeds recorded in the county office. The present fee is $7.50, but as of July 1, it will be $15 per document.

That increase means the charge on filing a deed transfer or mortgage will go from $79.25 to $86.75.

Revenue from the fee increase will be earmarked for the “County of Blair Demolition Fund,” which was initiated in 2019 to address blight in area communities.

Commissioner Amy Webster supported the proposed fee increase, calling blight an “enormous problem” in Blair County.

The program enables the city of Altoona and the townships and boroughs to eliminate rundown and often dangerous properties, while at the same time creating land for development.

Commissioners Chairman Bruce Erb said he helped create the fund a couple of years ago and the effort has been successful. But he said additional efforts need to be undertaken to address the problem of blight in a bigger way. He said additional steps will be discussed in the future.

The demolition fund developed by the county is designed to help local communities undertake the often-expensive task of removing properties that are dilapidated and near collapse, Erb said.

He used an example of the former Second Lutheran Church located in the 1100 block of Seventh Avenue.

Authorities concluded last year that the owner lacked the money to demolish the church, but also felt the structure was in such bad shape it could collapse. Erb said the county contributed $10,000 toward its demolition.

Erb believes the program has been helping communities willing to contribute on their own to remove blighted properties.

“Everybody wins. We can’t address ‘big blight,’ but you’ve got to start somewhere,” Erb said.

The proposal to increase the fee for the demolition program was supported by commissioners Erb, Webster and Laura Burke.

The fee increase was brought before the board last Tuesday by Melissa Gillin, quality assurance and housing coordinator for the Blair County Social Services Office located in the courthouse.

Gillin reported that the fee has brought in the equivalent of $50,000 a year.

But, the actual amount will be determined by the number of deeds and mortgages recorded in the Blair County office.

County Controller A.C. Stickel said the fund took in $54,000 in 2020, and just over $13,000 so far this year.

Records show the county has committed $123,001 to blight removal in Altoona, Roaring Spring, Williamsburg and Tyrone.

The municipalities have more than matched the county grants, committing $159,424 toward blight removal.

The properties addressed so far in Altoona include:

* 1530-32 18th St..

* 1420 Washington Ave.

* 1920 Pine Ave.

* 1106-10 Seventh Ave.

* 521 Eighth Ave.

* 1318 N. Fourth Ave.

* 306 Maple Ave.

* 1530 Second St.

* 1616 11th St.

* 1902 10th St.

Properties affected in Roaring Spring include:

* 215 and 223 N. Main St.

* 227 Main St.

* 219 Main St.

* 201 N. Main St.

One blighted property in Williamsburg was demolished — at 424 W. First St.

In Tyrone, the money was earmarked for the demolition of 193 Becker Road.

The fund contains $62,996 in uncommitted money, according to a report released by Erb.

The blight demolition fund was created under the Pennsylvania Demolition Act and a five-member board provides oversight of the local fund, Erb reported.

“This has been a highly successful program,” Erb said. “In two years, we have done effective work in eliminating blight. By (creating a fund), we are not using the General Fund and we are improving housing in the area. I am highly supportive of this effort.”