MERCER COUNTY Commissioners forgive 2 properties' back taxes

Commissioners rescinded hourly increases for some county employees.
MERCER, Pa. -- Mercer County commissioners have forgiven back county taxes on two properties to free them for development.
One is the former Carnegie/Sharon Steel slag dump off Second Street, Farrell. The parcel, known as the Taylor Dump, will be conveyed to the Wheatland Conservation Authority, which plans to turn it into a public walking area.
The other is a property at 259 Prospect St., Sharon, which has been acquired by Mercer County's Habitat for Humanity for rehabilitation.
Also on agenda
Also Thursday, commissioners:
URescinded a Jan. 8 action that gave all professional, administrative and daily rate employees a 2-percent cost-of-living increase with a minimum 30-cent hourly increase. They retained the 2-percent increase but eliminated the minimum 30-cent hourly increase, saying it was necessary to meet the budget.
UAccepted a $46,555 county Emergency Management Planning and Training Grant from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. The money will be used for damage assessment capabilities.
UAgreed to pay $7,654, or half the total cost of eight computers and six printers for the county jail. The other half will come from proceeds from the prisoners' canteen fund.
UTeri Swartzbeck as nurse case manager at Children and Youth Services at $38,014 per year and LaSetta Benning as a caseworker II at $27,647 and reassigned caseworker Nicole Wier as a caseworker supervisor at $33,279. In addition, they hired Sara Laslow, Cristen McComb, Michelle Noble, Amanda Runion, Toni White and Sheila Scofield as entry-level caseworkers at $25,464.