EBENSBURG — Cambria County commissioners are challenging the tax-exempt status of a club that calls itself a civil defense headquarters, but some say is nothing more than a social club in the rural, northern part of the county.
Commissioners wrote Wednesday to supervisors in Susquehanna Township, where the club is located, and to the Northern Cambria School District, asking them to join the county in the challenge.
With or without that partnership, commissioners say they will bring the tax status of the property before the Board of Assessment Appeals for its review.
“We are asking you to join us in this action,” wrote president Commissioner P.J. Stevens.
The property at 813 Lion Road in Susquehanna Township was the subject of a news article in Sunday’s edition of The Tribune-Democrat.
For more than 50 years, the building has been known as a civil defense office, and for decades locals have called the organization “emergency police.”
It has been exempt from paying county, township and school taxes.
But a complaint that the self-described civil defense facility has evolved into a hunting, fishing and drinking club prompted an investigation.
It turns out that despite the sign identifying the clubhouse, wooded acreage and pond as a civil defense and emergency management facility, officials at Cambria County’s Department of Emergency Services are not even aware of the group.
Past and present county emergency officials said they didn’t know of the group, let alone its status, if any, for emergency policing.
Northern Cambria officials said the same thing, with a few recalling sporting events and Little League banquets there in their youth.
One person associated with the facility said it was a division of the county’s 911 agency. Officers did not return phone calls, and the group’s president, Joseph Vozar, hung up on a reporter.
A review of public records shows that 50 years ago the group did play a role in civil defense activities prevalent during the Cold War.
In 1960, a group identifying itself as “Northern Cambria Civilian Defense and Emergency Police” purchased the 62-acre property from the estate of Van S. Harvey for $3,500.
By 1963, the county commissioners granted the group a tax exemption. That status has not been challenged until now.
The group holds a current games of chance license.
In its May 2008 license application, it described itself as a “volunteer rescue squad.”
Administrators at Cambria County 911 say they have never heard of the group.
Stevens said he does not doubt that the group’s roots are based in the civil defense activities and drills of the 1960s, but he questions whether the tax exemption still should apply.
He said he merely wants to be certain that everyone is paying their fair share in taxes.
Stevens said he expects the township and school district to review the commissioners’ request before responding.
Local News
Club’s exemption challenged
- Local News
-
-
Mild winter speeds work: Entertainment venue may be complete by end of May
An unusually mild winter has accelerated construction of a new outdoor entertainment venue in Johnstown.
-
Man jailed on rash of charges
A Patton man is being held on $100,000 bond after police said he threatened to kill a woman, her family and himself unless she talked to him about a protection-from-abuse order.
-
Cambria abolishes 16 jobs
Following through on promises to cut budget costs, the Cambria County commissioners voted Thursday to abolish 16 positions, including nine full-time jobs.
-
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. -
Wozniak defends his support of drilling bill
State Sen. John Wozniak, D-Westmont, one of only seven Democrats to support the Marcellus Shale legislation adopted this week, said the bill protects the environment and provides help to local communities impacted by the natural gas drilling.
-
Businessman hoping to unseat Wozniak
Tim Houser uses two words – “challenging opportunity” – to describe his goal in this year’s elections.
-
Judge tosses evidence in robbery
A Cambria County prosecutor said he’ll have to drop robbery charges against a Twin Rocks woman after much of his evidence was suppressed by a judge.
-
Shooting defendant pleads to attempted murder
A Philadelphia man pleaded guilty Thursday in county court to attempted murder and theft in a Nov. 18 home invasion in which the homeowner was shot.
-
Garrett man sought in Somerset crime
An arrest warrant has been issued for Samuel McFarland Jr., 33, of Berlin Street in Garrett in connection with Saturday’s robbery of two boys outside Dollar General on East Main Street in Somerset.
-
City man shot during alleged burglary
A Johnstown man was shot during a burglary attempt in Indiana County and then burglarized a home in Armstrong County before he was arrested, authorities said Thursday.
- More Local News Headlines
-
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
