Carroll Valley aims to profit from lot sales

(8/24) If the planned sales of borough-owned lots are successful, Carroll Valley Borough will add almost half a million dollars to its coffers. Borough Manager Dave Hazlett told the council during its July meeting that the total appraised value of nine lots is $423,000. Pennsylvania law dictates the borough must sell the lots for at least their appraised value.

Hazlett said the borough paid a total of $34,630 for the lots. The borough will first attempt to sell the properties through a sealed bid process. The borough will advertise the bid process this summer, Hazlett said.

The lots headed to public auction with public sewer available are: 4 Grouse Trail (0.78 acres), appraised value $47,000; 22 Sunshine Trail (0.87 acres), appraised value $54,000; 19 Sunfish Trail (0.54 acres), appraised value $45,000; 50 Crossland Trail (0.82 acres), $40,000; 2 Elm Trail (0.57 acres), appraised value $45,000; 39 Main Trail (0.46 acres), appraised value $39,000; 45/47 Crossland Trail (1.36 acres), appraised value $58,000; and 49/51 Crossland Trail (0.94 acres), appraised value $51,000.

A lot at 68 Shirley Trail (0.52 acres) cannot connect to the public sewer, but it has passed a perc test Hazlett said. A perc test determines if a lot’s soil will absorb water at the necessary rate. If a perc test fails, a septic system cannot be installed on the property. Its appraised value is $44,000.

If the sales are successful, the council will have another reason to celebrate financial success. Also during the July meeting, Assistant Borough Manager Gayle Marthers reported that the borough’s auditing firm, Boyer & Ritter, awarded the borough the highest possible ranking and stated that the governing body’s financial statements are fairly presented and free of material misstatements.

"We have a really good staff, and I am proud of them," Hazlett said. "This is just one document over the course of the year that highlights how good they are."

In other business, Mayor Ron Harris reported the borough police department will host National Night Out on Aug. 6 from 5 to 8 p.m. This annual event is designed to build relationships between emergency responders and the community they serve. Food and ice cream vendors will be on-site and the evening will conclude with a showing of "Paw Patrol" at 7 p.m.