Concerned Citizens Pack Millcreek Supervisors Meeting 2/28/2023

More than a dozen citizens spoke on both sides of the contentious Presque Isle Gateway Project in the crowded assembly room at the Millcreek Township Municipal Building on February 28, 2023. The agenda for the Millcreek Township Board of Supervisors meeting, which began at 5:00 p.m., and included firearms purchases for the police, a computer server purchase for the public works department, and the purchase of a new vehicle for the incoming fire chief. The requests were approved by the two supervisors present, Mr. Bock and Ms. Clear. Mr. Oellett was absent.

Also approved was Resolution 2023-R-7, which authorized a grant application for $2,335,919 from the Commonwealth Financing Authority to be used for the Kearsarge Forcemain Replacement Project. The “Forcemain” is a pressure sewer that begins in Kearsarge travels under I-79, eventually joining the Erie sewer system. 

Other issues included approval of a property maintenance code-enforcement action on a Millcreek property in code violation. This allows the township to bring the property up to code and invoice the owners for the costs or put a lien on the property.

Of note is a change to billing for Waste Management services. This will now be a line item on the water bill. Residents will no longer remit directly to Waste Management unless they are on the per-bag plan.

In addition to the printed agenda, two documents were passed out to attendees by citizens. One was entitled “Appraisals Versus Purchase Prices” and the other “Comparison: Sheetz on Peninsula Drive.” The appraisals document details the appraisal values for Joe Roots, Grasshopper, Bel-Aire Hotel, and the Manor Motel and the purchase prices for each. There was no appraisal performed for the Sandbar, so the county assessment value was used. In almost all cases, the purchase price was significantly higher than the appraised value or the county assessment figure. The Sheetz document compares the assessed value of the Sheetz property to the purchase price of the properties in question. 

The Citizens to be Heard portion of the meeting was saved for the end. Here are the notes I took on each person who addressed the Board of Supervisors. These individuals spoke on both sides of the issue. Constructive comments and corrections to these notes are welcomed below.

1. Sue Weber (former Millcreek supervisor): No need to hire a consultant for the water problem. A study already exists, and it can be found in the basement of the township building. She is concerned about the lack of transparency around the gateway purchase. She requests that the Millcreek Authority hold a special meeting and possibly cancel the current sales without losing their deposits. Weber says the supervisors owe their treasurer an apology, because he warned them about the negative effect this project would have on the township financial health. The properties were never on the public market, and they would have sold quickly. The citizens were never asked if they were okay with their money being used for this project. 
2. Mary Schaaf (former county controller): The fiduciary responsibility the supervisors and the authority has to the taxpayers and citizens has been breached. The funds, from the sale of the water authority, is needed for roads, fire protection, etc. Getting into the business of buying property is something none of us anticipated.
3. Jay Pratt (resident): He is concerned about young people leaving Millcreek. None of his grown children live here. A relative visiting from out of town used a disparaging slur for the intersection of Eighth and Peninsula.
4. Robyn Crago (business owner): She supports the vision of this project and referenced the Pittsburgh redevelopment. Crago remembers piles of scrap metal and old barges on the river before the redevelopment. She said the Eighth Street corridor is “scary.”
5. John Collins: The purchase prices of the properties are unreasonable. Collins referred to Sue Weber’s TalkErie interview, in which she provides details of the sales. He supports the project but calls the purchases “wasteful and irresponsible.”
6. Duke Orr (resident): Supportive of the project, but the township is grossly overpaying for the properties. Orr asked if the supervisors have contacted any prospective buyers to see if there is interest. Mr. Bock said to his knowledge that has not occurred, and Ms. Clear interjected that they have just started working with a broker.
7. Tom Smith (realtor): Concerned about overpayment of more than $2 million. He has requested copies of correspondence about negotiations. Smith is concerned that there was no appraisal for the Sandbar. He has asked for details but has had no response. Ms. Clear suggested a Right to Know request through the township secretary. Smith also wants information about the consultant—what services were performed, fees paid, and why appraisal values weren’t used.
8. Richard Weber (former sports store owner): Mentioned the costs that the Township will incur after the acquisition. Weber asserted that the authority was formed so it could pay more than the appraised value, which the supervisors could not do on their own. He said that he owned a sports store on Eighth Street that never performed well, and that Eighth Street is not a good area for businesses. He also said that the Bel-Aire hotel could easily be renovated.
9. Brenton Davis (Erie County Executive): Davis praised what the township is doing with its fire department. He said he didn’t know he’d be walking into the gateway issue that night but offered that he believes the township is left of center in price and process. The township needs to figure out its storm water problem. He said the Manor Hotel draws criminals.
10. Pete Kubeja (planning commissioner): He is shocked at how this project came about so quickly. Kubeja doesn’t understand why the citizens were not informed better. The Township should slow down and get more information from the citizens before going further.
11. Jacqueline Garnon (Millcreek educator): She wanted to know when Mr. Smith’s questions would be answered. The township secretary said they are required to respond to those requests within five days unless legal consultation was necessary. Garnon said this situation is discouraging. She is in support of saving the old schoolhouse (Grasshopper).
12. Mary Ellen Magoc: She is in support of saving the old schoolhouse. It is one of the oldest in the country. The building is not blighted. Historic places help describe who we are and bring neighbors together.
13. Nancy Shea: Not against the project, but she is against the formation of the authority and the transparency issue. Shea believes that authority wasn’t described as what it really is, having the power to do what the supervisors are not permitted to do, such as condemn properties. Shea requested that authority meetings be recorded and livestreamed. Ms. Clear agreed to “putting them online.”
14. Laban Marsh (Millcreek business owner): He is concerned about the stormwater problem on the property he owns in Millcreek. He’s reluctant to improve the property out of concern it will be “taken” by the Township. He is concerned by the overreaching of the authority.
15. Doug Prozan: He said he is among a group of investors who are putting together a letter of intent for the Bel-Aire property for a project, which will not be a hotel.
16. Lou Aliota (former school board member): Aliota asked if the costs related to the gateway project were in the budget. Did the auditor approve? Was it legal? Aliota plans to bring a lawsuit against the township.
17. Eric Cronk (business owner): Cronk supports the project and said sometimes you have to overpay in the short-term if the long-term is worth it. He said people don’t visit this area for these types of things (the schoolhouse). They come here for the peninsula in the summer. This township is better than people give it credit for.

The meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m.

2/3/2023: Mr. Cronk’s summary updated at his request after a review of the meeting video.