Township questions Pike land assessments

MILFORD — After comparing notes and lot assessments, the Milford Township Supervisors on Monday decided they wanted some answers from Pike County’s property assessment office. Supervisors’ Chair Don Quick, who owns some of the lots in question, highlighted the issue saying comparisons of like building lots in the Milford area showed what he called “widely disparate assessments, ranging from $30 to $3,000.” Quick spoke of lots in Moon Valley Falls, complete with water and sewer connections, which he said are assessed at $100. He noted the high-end, 70-lot Milford Highlands development, which he said still appears on county tax rolls as a single, unsubdivided tract. He compared those to his own property. “I have lots without any improvements, no paved road, which are assessed at $3,850,” he said. The supervisors approved a letter to the county assessment office, requesting that a county spokesperson appear at a future meeting to explain the apparent inequities. No spokesperson for the county assessment office was available for comment as the Courier went to press. No comprehensive re-assessment of Pike County properties has been done since 1995. Recycling In other business at the Oct 5 meeting, Supervisor/Roadmaster Gary Williams said he met with a representative of Waste Management Inc., which has been selected to take over Pike County recycling efforts. The supervisors had expressed concern about the private hauler’s use of township property and damage to the parking lot pavement from steel wheeled bins. Williams said Waste Management plans to replace existing recycling bins at the township building and replace them with three eight by 24-foot, 25 cubic-yard dumpsters. They would be placed off the parking lot on a new stone bed, facing the highway. He noted that the new location would free additional parking at the township building. Old Owego Turnpike Williams also reported that his discussions with Pike Commissioners Richard Caridi and Harry Forbes appear to be leading to a township takeover of the Old Owego Turnpike. The supervisors had opposed an earlier county plan to turn the highway, which serves Grey Towers and provides an emergency alternate to US Route 6, into a one-way street. Williams said the commissioners have agreed to replace one damaged box culvert and provide a five-year guarantee on repairs to a second culvert near Apple Valley. He has also requested that the county provide some 30 feet of guardrail as well as some no parking restrictions to prevent further culvert damage. One drawback to the pending agreement is that Milford will not have time to apply for state liquid fuels tax support for the road maintenance, since the deadline for application is Oct. 15. Quick suggested that the county’s liquid fuels account could be drawn on for the difference. Williams said he has another meeting scheduled with commissioners.