The county is responsible for managing the building, but doesn't own it.
York County commissioners on Wednesday approved spending $1,400 to hire an outside business to appraise the Marketway West building in York, as they prepare for the possibility of selling the building.
"We're getting our ducks in order," York County Commissioner Doug Hoke said at the weekly commissioners' meeting.
The county is responsible for managing the building, but doesn't own it, according to county spokesman Carl Lindquist.
The county announced in April that it was taking over management of the building, following a default in mortgage payment by H.W. York Properties, LLC. Officials with the company could not be reached for comment.
The company purchased the building from the county in 2002. It stopped making payments on the building as of June 2012, and it owed more than $1.5 million in principal and interest as of January, according to the county.
In March, a judge granted the county's request to take over management of the property, pending the results of a sheriff's sale.
Since taking over responsibility for the building, the county has hired multiple entities to handle collecting rent, doing custodial work, doing monthly maintenance and repairs for elevators, and other responsibilities.
The sheriff's sale is June 10.
The property could be sold to a third party for at least the outstanding balance of the mortgage. There would also be certain costs associated with the sale and taxes, according to Lindquist.
If there are no appropriate buyers, the county will become the owner, Lindquist said.
"At that time, we can move forward to list the property for sale," Hoke said.
County administrator Chuck Noll said the county has to establish a fair market value for the building as required by Pennsylvania law for counties.
That process requires two appraisals, and one has to be from an independent, third-party, Noll said.
He said the second one will be provided internally by staff in the county's assessment office.
"We're getting ourselves prepared to be able to take action immediately after that sheriff's sale, should the building actually default back to the county," Noll said.
Director of the York County Office of Children, Youth and Families retires
Deb Chronister, director of the York County Office of Children, Youth and Families, has submitted retirement papers, York County President Commissioner Steve Chronister said Wednesday.
"We appreciate everything she has done for the agency," said Steve Chronister, who is not related to her.
He said she has been asked to serve on an advisory council.
In February, commissioners appointed Michelle Hovis as acting director of the York County Office of Children, Youth and Families, filling in for Chronister, while she was out under the Family and Medical Leave Act. Her retirement took effect in recent weeks, said Hovis, executive director of York County Human Services.
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York County takes over management of Marketway West in York
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