SHENANDOAH HEIGHTS — Six more blighted properties in West Mahanoy Township will be demolished in the near future through an agreement with Girard Estate.
The township supervisors approved the demolition list at Tuesday’s regular monthly meeting, which was held in the municipal building and open to the public, though no one attended.
The township continues to work with Girard Estate in razing blighted vacant structures located on leased land owned by the company, which pays the demolition costs, in the villages of William Penn and Lost Creek.
In order to qualify, the houses have to be abandoned for years, are not half of a double-block structure unless both sides are being demolished and there are no taxes or a lease being paid.
This is the 10th year for the demolition program partnership. Girard Estate has demolished 54 structures in the past nine years.
The following six houses were approved for demolition in the 2020 blight project:
• Lost Creek: 491, 514, 519, 532 and 533 Mount Olive Blvd.
• Upper William Penn: 18 Upper Road.
No date has been set when the demolitions will begin.
In other business, the supervisors authorized the advertising for bids for the 2020 road program. The main project will include:
• Shenandoah Heights: Texas Avenue (T-800) from Wyoming Avenue (T-865) to Tioga Avenue (T-855) for 1,160 feet in length and 31 feet wide, and Indiana Avenue (T-852) for 622 feet in length and 22 feet wide.
• William Penn: Chelton Street (T-879) for 544 feet in length and 20 feet wide; and Upper Road (T-881) for 544 feet and 20 feet wide.
There are three options in Altamont that may be added depending on funds available and the bids received on the primary streets. The streets are:
• Chestnut Street (T-847) from Wylam Street (T-766) to Spencer Street (T-863) for 408 feet in length and 24 feet wide.
• Lotus Alley (T-804) from Chestnut Street (T-847) to Willow Street (T-845) for 525 feet in length and 12 feet wide.
• Back Alley (T-803) from Chestnut Street (T-847) to Willow Street (T-845) for 515 feet in length and 20 feet wide.
In a related action, the supervisors appointed township Secretary/Treasurer Michael Michalik as chairman of the bid opening committee for the 2020 road program.
Supervisor Chairwoman Lauren Amato announced that PennDOT will soon begin road improvements on Route 432 beginning at the intersection with Route 54 near the William Penn softball field up to the Village of Raven Run, and then along Schuylkill Avenue in Shenandoah Heights to Route 924.
“This will start on July 13. As we get closer to the improvements starting, we will be providing PennDOT contact information to any resident,” Amato said.
In other business, the supervisors:
• Approved the hiring of Tyler Livergood and Brian Gilbert as summer help to the road crew at $10 per hour for a maximum of 30 hours per week each.
• Approved the advertisement for a part-time clerk for the office. The township supervisors will hold a safety meeting at 4 p.m. June 25 at the municipal building.
Contact the writer: jusalis@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6023