Tuesday, October 29, 2002
Commissioner Kenneth Seamans said the county has three options for the project.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
FARRELL, Pa. -- City officials say Mercer County will build a district justice office at Roemer Boulevard and Spearman Avenue but a county official said the deal isn't sealed yet.
Mayor William Morocco told council Monday the county is moving forward with building plans rather than buying a building at Fruit Avenue and Roemer Boulevard as the new offices of District Justice Henry Russo.
Russo's office is on Mercer Avenue in Hermitage, but the county has been talking for years about moving him into larger quarters.
The city thought it had a deal earlier this year for the Roemer/Spearman site, buying and clearing lots at a cost of about $18,000, but the county announced in July it was also considering buying the Primary Health Network building.
Morocco said Monday that a private developer, whom he didn't identify, has stepped into the picture, offering to buy the land, erect the building and then lease it to the county.
That way, the county could avoid a large construction expense and the building and land would pay full real estate taxes, Morocco said, adding it is his understanding the county is proceeding with those plans.
Not definite yet
That's not definite yet, said county Commissioner Kenneth Seamans. "We don't have all the facts on that yet," he said, explaining the county doesn't know exactly what the developer is proposing.
The county is still moving ahead with plans to erect its own building. The Primary Health building hasn't been ruled out, but it has been put on hold, he added.
The county wants to limit the cost of a new building at $300,000, but Seamans said the original plans were in the $550,000 range.
The scope of the project is being cut back to meet the county's desired cost, he said, adding the county wants that plan in place if a deal can't be reached with the developer.
City officials have said getting a new building on the Roemer/Spearman site is important in efforts to revitalize the town.