Westmoreland commissioners reconvene meeting

By ANNABELLE CHIPPS

Westmoreland County Commissioners authorized Westmoreland Manor nursing home administrators to endorse changes to an insurance liability agreement and finalized property tax amounts for a Walgreens in the city of Lower Burrell on Feb. 18 in a meeting that lasted under two minutes.

The commissioners initially met for an hour and a half the previous week but called a recess due to a lengthy public comment period about the Westmoreland County sheriff's agreement with ICE.

Last week, nobody spoke during public comment, and only two agenda items were left.

Vermont-based nursing home insurance company Pelican RRG covers general liability, employee benefits and excess for Westmoreland Manor. The county will pay a $302,494 premium for one year of coverage starting March 1 and a $22,687.05 commission payable to the insurance broker, Bulava & Associates.

Through this action, Westmoreland Manor can sign off on changes to coverage or pricing. Administrator Abby Steele recommended it.

An appeal Walgreens filed against Greensburg Road LLC and Greensburg Second Avenue LLC for lower property taxes required the commissioners to agree to apply ratios from the State Tax Equalization Board.

As a result, the market value of the Lower Burrell property was set at $3.4 million.

The next county commissioners meeting will take place on March 5 at 10 a.m. on the first floor of the Westmoreland County Courthouse.

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Chipps is a staff reporter for the Latrobe Bulletin.