Land swap voted out of state committee

HARRISBURG — State Rep. John Siptroth, D-Monroe/Pike, said a bill he introduced authorizing a Milford land swap between Pike County and the state was voted out of the State Government Committee today and could soon be considered by the full House. “I am pleased members of the committee took action on my bill and I look forward to a full House vote on it,” Siptroth said. “This is a sensible solution for the land-use needs of both the county and the state, and it will save county taxpayers money.” Under the legislation (H.B. 2158), the Department of General Services, with the approval of the Department of Transportation and the governor, would transfer to Pike County a 3.3-acre property in the borough of Milford that is currently owned by the state and being used as the state Department of Transportation’s county maintenance facility. The land would be used by the county to expand its administrative offices. In exchange, the county would transfer 13.5 acres of county land that is currently unoccupied to the state for construction of a new PennDOT Pike County Maintenance Facility. Siptroth said the land transfer makes sense. The county wants to keep most of its administrative offices in Milford because it is the county seat, but available land for office expansion is scarce. At the same time, PennDOT wants its maintenance facility to be more centrally located in the county. Rep. Mike Peifer, R-Monroe/Pike/Wyoming also supported the bill.