Seniors question state officials on blight enforcement
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL FILE - A building on West Arlington Street, owned by a South Carolina woman, is seen collapsing on March 28, 2023.
MAHANOY CITY – During a question-and-answer session following a press conference at the Mahanoy City Senior Center, a resident urged the gathered officials to take action on blight.
As Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich took questions, one senior, who was not identified, asked the state to “enforce absentee landlords to keep their properties up to code.”
“Instead of letting them deteroriate, it would be better…” she said, before Kavulich told the woman it is beyond the scope of state government.
State Senator David G. Argall then chimed in, saying the legislature is working with local governments.
“The need here is especially acute,” Argall said. “Rep. Twardzik and I came up with a $1 Million grant to take down some really troubled properties in the county. We had a meeting in Mahanoy City and they said ‘Thank you very much, we need $15 Million.'”
“If we can get the code folks to stop the deterioration before it starts, we could save a fortune, because it’s a real big issue right here,” Argall said.
The woman asked why the property owners don’t tear them down, and Argall said “They walk.”
“When they stop paying the taxes, and it’s stuck with the county commissioners,” Argall said.
In Shenandoah, several collapsing properties are owned by people residing out-of-state, and in at least one case, abroad, and municipal code enforcement has few options available to bring them before a magistrate.
One such property is on West Arlington Street, in which the property owner, Gabrielle Brooks, of the Aiken/Gloverville area of South Carolina, had been fined 14 times — nearly monthly — through March for her building, which is now leaning against a neighboring home.
Another case is on East Laurel Street in Shenandoah, where a home has almost entirely collapsed at the rear. That home is owned by Said Attalla, of Mississauga, Ontario, near Toronto.
Rep. Tim Twardzik said he is working on a bill that would help identify slumlords and help “track them down, make them responsible, and keep them from buying properties in neighboring towns.”
“It’s a start,” Twardzik said, adding that there are several other blight bills being worked on.
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