GAS — Council members Tuesday evening approved the city’s inclusion in the Neighborhood Revitalization Program for another three years, following a public hearing during which no comment occurred.
All of Gas except Fees Park is in the NRP zone. Inclusion gives property owners, residential or commercial, opportunity to apply for property tax abatement if they make improvements or build anew having a value of $5,000 or more. Abatement is for 95 percent the first six years and then is reduced by 20 percent a year the remainder of a 10-year cycle.
Application for an abatement must be made at City Hall.
City Clerk Rhonda Hill said four people applied for abatements during the program’s first three years.
Purpose of the program is to encourage improvements in the community, said City Attorney Ross Albertini.
Only four people used credit cards to pay utility bills during the opportunity’s first month, said Hill.
With so few taking advantage, Hill said she saw no reason for the city to purchase a machine to facilitate credit card payments. A $1.50 service charge is attached to payments, which take two days to process, she said.
Gas was not successful in attracting a Community Development Block Grant of $50,000 to build a community storm shelter. It may try again in the fall.
The shelter proposed would hold 30 people and be accessible to the handicapped. In a 25-75 match, Gas would have been responsible for $17,000.
City Superintendent Steve Robb said he would plant five new trees in Fees Park, four red maples and a Bradford pear. Also, he said the foundation for a new piece of playground equipment would be poured soon.
Gas renews tax break program
