FARRELL, Pa., (WKBN) – Mercer County Commissioners attended a town hall meeting in Farrell Tuesday where they heard concerns about the ongoing property tax reassessment and the city’s future.
After the introductions by the Mercer County Commissioners, Farrell City Councilman Michael Wright brought up the property tax reassessments taking place and how the company is ignoring some houses in Farrell — he said because the people are Black.
“One of the things that you’ll hear from all three of us is transparency. We’re trying to be as open to the public as we possibly can,” said Mercer County Commissioner Bill Finley.
Commissioner Tim McGonigle told of a meeting with company officials where an employee felt intimated around a black man.
“So if they have an employee that feels intimidated by a Black person, well they need to address that. They got to make sure that they understand that there’s no color of skin when it comes to paying taxes,” said McGonigle.
Pastor Tiffany Holden was among those who spoke about the lack of attention given to Farrell.
“Here we’re lacking in a lot of different areas,” she said. “We’re treated ostracized — we’re treated like we’re separate from the Shenango Valley.”
“We need your help to change that image. We need your help to bring in some business that people will come to because there’s good people here,” said Holden.
Commissioner Ann Coleman said a new comprehensive plan will start in the fall and Farrell will be included in the process.
“So we are, for the first time in 20 years, Mercer County is going to do a new comprehensive plan,” said Coleman.”Which will include where we want our housing to be? Where do we want our agriculture to be?”
Coleman said there’s one specific area that Mercer County needs to address.
“One of the complaints we get from businesses looking to locate here is that we don’t have enough attainable housing. There’s not enough housing and if there is housing — I don’t know about you but I can’t afford to live at Lake Latonka,”
McGonigle suggested the people of Farrell get a plan together on how they see future development in the city.