SHARPSVILLE, PA. Council votes to take property

The borough wants the land for a bus passenger comfort station shelter and a parking lot.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
SHARPSVILLE, Pa. -- The borough will use the right of eminent domain to take a property at 32 S. Walnut St. needed for a development project.
Borough council voted Wednesday to authorize its solicitor to draft an ordinance condemning the occupied rental house on the site, the first step in the eminent domain process.
Borough Manager Michael Wilson said Sharpsville has been trying to buy the property for some time, and the owner, Richard Foltz of Hermitage, has said it is available, but the two sides have been unable to come to an agreement.
Taking it by eminent domain would require the borough to pay Foltz an appraised fair market value for the house and land; though he could challenge the appraised value in court.
However, such a challenge wouldn't delay the borough's taking of the property.
Wilson said that though council directed the solicitor to prepare the ordinance, it is hoped a purchase can still be negotiated.
Council could vote to introduce the ordinance as early as its July meeting.
Wilson said the borough wants the land to provide space for a Shenango Valley Shuttle Service comfort station as well as a small public parking lot.
The parking is needed because the Walnut Street Lodge, a privately owned large brick building next door at 40 S. Walnut St., has been plagued by a lack of parking for years.
The third floor of the lodge is occupied by a performing arts troupe, but the first two floors are vacant.
Wilson said the borough has helped secure tenants for those floors, but those deals hinge upon the borough being able to provide some parking space.
The lot measures only 66 by 130 feet.
Other business
In other business, council amended its police contract to require anyone who wants to hire an off-duty borough police officer for security to go through the borough.
Mayor Kenneth Robertson said police previously were paid $12 an hour cash by anyone hiring them for security during off-duty hours. However, the borough learned that officers working in that fashion weren't covered by municipal insurance, he said.
To correct that problem, council, with Fraternal Order of Police concurrence, changed the police contract to require that off-duty officers be hired through the borough at a cost of $15 per hour for a minimum of four hours, Robertson said.
The officers will still clear $12 an hour, and the extra $3 will go to cover insurance and other costs, he said.