JOHNSTOWN — The 7.5-acre Planet Ice property in Richland Township, which has been operating for months under a financial cloud, took on a new life Friday with CNB Bank of Clearfield taking ownership at a sheriff’s sale and two local business partners immediately leasing with plans to buy it.
The bank had a judgment for $596,209 against the owner, 195 Jari Drive of Johns-town, formerly known as Roustan Johnstown.
The bank’s judgment is among several reportedly totaling $1.5 million against Roustan.
When no private bidders showed up at the sheriff’s sale, CNB took possession by paying $269,349 in sheriff’s costs and commission and the $258,030 owed in delinquent property taxes to Cambria County, Richland Township and Richland School District.
Business partners Louis Mihalko and Jim Vasilko are leasing the two-story building, which includes the popular skating rink, for a short-term operation. The lease will remain in effect until the two men get the financing in place to buy the property, they said.
The rink, which was closed for several days, reopened Friday afternoon with Rink Management Services brought in by Mihalko and Vasilko to operate and manage the facility.
Rink Management, which is based in Mechanicsville, Va., operates 30 rinks in the U.S.
“We’ve been after this property for quite some time. It just didn’t work out. There were too many issues clouded over the former owner, and not necessarily from the rink. CNB Bank really saved the rink and got us involved. The place would have been closed without the bank. Two days ago they (the bank) got us involved,” Mihalko said.
Mihalko and Vasilko are local businessmen who own and operate commercial and industrial real estate throughout the Greater Johnstown area.
They also operate two construction companies – Mihalko’s General Contracting and Johns-town Construction Services.
Since Wednesday, the construction workers have been busy at Planet Ice sprucing up the place to get ready for Friday afternoon’s reopening, Mihalko said. An open house will be held at a later date, he said.
The business partners believe Planet Ice can be further developed, Mihalko said. He said there is about 60,000 square feet of warehouse space and about 10,000 square feet of space available to be leased out on the second story.
“We think we will be able to fill the building and bring in some new employment,” Mihalko said.
With the delinquent taxes - some dating back to 2006 - being paid in full, the three taxing bodies will get a windfall they didn’t count on in their budgets this year, President Commissioner P.J. Stevens said.
Richland School District is to receive $172,889; Cambria County, $69,322; and Richland Township, $15,819.
A sheriff’s sale deed will be prepared within 30 to 45 days showing the transfer in ownership to CNB Bank, Mary Lou Varner, a sheriff’s office employee, said.
Information about the rink, its hours of operation and programs is available by calling 262-7465.
Local News
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There were no bidders at a sheriff’s sale for Planet Ice in Richland Township on Friday, so CNB Bank of Clearfield took ownership of the facility and is leasing it to two Johnstown businessmen. Todd Berkey
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Planet Ice reopens as bank takes ownership
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