LAWRENCE COUNTY Officials balk at paying to move telephone switch from old jail

The telephone switch routes calls to other government center buildings.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Lawrence County commissioners are finding there are a few hidden costs to razing the former county jail.
The jail has been vacant since a new facility opened on Milton Street about four years ago and workers are now preparing to raze the old building to make more room for parking at the county government center.
Verizon, however, is insisting that the county pay $1,400 to have a Verizon telephone switch removed from the structure before it's demolished, said Commissioner Brian Burick.
Burick said he initially refused to pay the cost and told Verizon officials the equipment would be demolished with the building. But he brought the issue to the board of commissioners Thursday when he was told the county would be responsible for any repairs needed if the switch is destroyed.
"They say we will have to pay for emergency repairs which would be more than $1,400," he said.
Apparently the telephone switch routes calls for other buildings in the government center, he said.
Commissioner Ed Fosnaught suggested they let the county solicitor handle the problem. Fosnaught said he opposes paying the $1,400 to Verizon to remove equipment.
What occurred: Verizon spokeswoman Sharon Shaffer said the telephone company has received a check for $1,400 from the contractor demolishing the building and considers the matter a nonissue. Engineering work is now being done to move the switch, she said.
County officials say they were unaware that the contractor had paid Verizon for the telephone switch and don't know if the contractor will now bill the county. G.B. Sand Co. of New Castle is the contractor.
Burick noted that the county is also paying other utility companies to move lines and meters from the former jail because, they too, would interrupt services at other offices in the county government center if demolished with the building. He did not list the costs of moving those lines.