EBENSBURG — With landowners bidding for their coal rights lost decades ago, the county’s last tax auction brought in 16 times what the previous one did, making a nice windfall for the Northern Cambria School District.
At the Feb. 15 auction when the county sold coal rights parcels that owed back taxes, competitive bidding brought in $112,900.
That stands in stark contrast to the December tax auction of coal rights, where one Somerset couple, David and Anne Jenkins of Garrett, bought 69 parcels for $100 apiece.
At the February auction, David Jenkins was the top bidder on 35 of the 96 coal rights that were up for grabs, and he paid $100 apiece for only a few.
Others were bid up to $3,000 and even $5,000.
Coal rights, and the chance for landowners to buy them back if they were leased to coal companies generations ago, have assumed a new importance because of coalbed-methane gas drilling.
Whoever owns the coal rights owns the gas, the courts have ruled, and surface owners want control over their own property.
David Jenkins has been buying coal rights that owe back taxes and marketing them to methane gas companies, with the landowners often caught off guard when a drilling rig shows up.
With 88 of the 96 coal rights auctioned by the county being located in the Northern Cambria School District, most of the back taxes will benefit the district.
Next, the county and local municipalities will take their share of owed back taxes, and the county commissioners are looking at a way to keep the rest.
“Our first tax obligation is to the school district, the municipality and the county,” President Commissioner P.J. Stevens said.
“But we’ve asked our solicitors to look into whether the rest of the funds can be applied to back taxes owed not on that same coal-rights parcel, but by the same company on another parcel,” he said.
Stevens also said that a database is being developed so that landowners will have an easier way of knowing whether the coal rights below the surface are up for grabs.
“The overlays of the maps of surface parcels over the mineral parcels is close to halfway being completed. Then the effort will be to develop a mineral data base, such that when a bid on a mineral parcel is received, landowners will be able to know if it’s going to tax auction,” he said.
No more auctions are scheduled at this time.
Local News
Tax auction brings for nice windfall for Northern Cambria
- Local News
-
-
Johnstown man charged with giving fatal Methadone dose to girlfriend
A Johnstown area man has been charged in the death of his girlfriend, who died in August from an illicit drug that he allegedly gave to her while she was a patient at Indiana Regional Medical Center.
-
Somerset County teacher accused of using insulting names
School board members and administrators say they’re still investigating whether a teacher called her eighth- and ninth-grade algebra students names like “retard,” “idiot” and “moron.”
-
Seward tax preparer set to plead in federal court
A Westmoreland County tax preparer is scheduled to plead guilty or no contest to charges that he filed fraudulent income tax returns for his customers and asked some of them to lie to Internal Revenue Service investigators.
-
Blogging with heart
Anyone else have this issue: The more I know, the more I want to learn.
As I am writing my heart month stories for this week’s packages, I occasionally come across a term or description unfamiliar to me. So I look it up. And then the definition or article has something else that sounds important, so I look that up. -
Police probing financial irregularities at Indiana County parish
State police say they’re investigating financial “irregularities” at a Catholic parish with five worship sites in Indiana County, after the local diocese reported the problems to police.
-
Video: Young bear, wolf play together
It’s like something out of a children's book: A bear cub meets a wolf cub and they become the best of friends. Even though they are different species and ferocious predators, the unlikely couple stays pals for life.
-
Two Cambria district judge offices to be cut
Two of Cambria County’s 10 magisterial districts could be eliminated as President Judge Timothy Creany looks at realigning boundaries to cut costs while taking into consideration caseloads of the district judges and population changes.
-
Westmont couple inseparable, even in death
People who knew James and Marjorie Landis of Westmont said the two were nearly always together.
-
Company buys valuables from people ready to unload
Jan Hagerich’s buffalo nickel was “healthy” – which was unhealthy for her finances.
-
Special Olympics return to region
More than 300 athletes eager to show off their skills, along with 135 coaches, will be coming to the region to take part in the 2012 Special Olympics Pennsylvania Winter Games.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Johnstown man charged with giving fatal Methadone dose to girlfriend
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
