MERCER Board awards bid for new courtroom

Work is to begin next week on the new courtroom.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MERCER -- A Hermitage construction company was the successful bidder for construction of a fourth courtroom at the Mercer County Courthouse.
Mercer County commissioners awarded the $94,486 contract to Hudson Construction Inc. at their Thursday meeting. The only other bidder was Wallace Builders, Pulaski, Pa., who offered to do the same job for $142,800.
Commissioners chose the cheapest of three alternatives they bid out for construction of the new courtroom on the courthouse's third floor. Work is expected to begin next week.
Agency's staff
Beverly Burrows, executive director of Children and Youth Services, told the commissioners that in spite of the hiring of two new caseworkers, she is short five caseworkers and having a hard time keeping the positions staffed.
Marlene Lineberger and Kenneth Jeffries were hired at $24,722 each at the meeting.
One problem, Burrows said, is that the job is the only one in the courthouse where a civil service test is needed, making it necessary for those interested to travel outside the area to take the test.
In addition, she said that the qualifications for the job only require a college degree including a minimal number of courses in the social sciences. She said this results in many people with degrees in other fields simply taking the job as a temporary measure while waiting for a better job opportunity. She said they often do not understand what the job entails, and this leads to a high turnover rate.
Audit report
An audit report on the county for 2002 prepared by a Sharon CPA firm Black, Bashor & amp; Porsch showed no findings for recovery or noncompliance issues.
Commissioners reappointed George Gregg of Grove City to a five-year term on the Mercer County Solid Waste Authority. They also appointed John Ligo of Grove City to a one-year term on the Agriculture Land Preservation Board.
They entered an agreement with the YWCA of Greater Pittsburgh for a $34,240 grant for community planning for early child care and education.