District justice's office to move to Pine Township

The county's shared-ride transportation service needs new vans.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MERCER, Pa. -- Mercer County commissioners signed a contract with Sharon architecture and engineering firm HHSDR Inc. to design a new court facility for District Justice Larry Silvis, which is now located in Jackson Center.
The new offices would be constructed on 5.8 acres on Pa. Route 208 north of Grove City and near the Pine Township municipal building.
The firm will design the facility for 6 percent of the construction cost, and 5,000 per month for contract administration during construction. It will be paid an additional 10,000 for storm water management.
Silvis' current building is 30 years old and has inadequate space, a leaking roof and security problems, in addition to being inconveniently located halfway between Grove City and Sandy Lake, Commissioner Brian Beader said.
He said construction of a new building is expected to save money in the long run. He said he hopes the facility will be ready by next spring.
Also Thursday, commissioners approved an application to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for a 455,000 grant to replace all seven vans used for the Mercer County Transit Agency's Demand responsive Shared-Ride Transportation Service.
The service provides rides for senior citizens and disabled residents who qualify to medical appointments and other destinations.
Bill Jones, agency manager, said that though all seven vans need to be replaced, "We will feel lucky if we get three." He added it will take a year after grant approval to receive the vehicles. Jones said some of the vans have logged 200,000 miles and that maintenance is getting expensive.
Other business
In other matters, commissioners:
Approved 49,950 for fencing and other work for the county's seven dams to be done by ABCON, 1130 Performance Place, Youngstown. County Engineer Mark Miller said ABCON's was the lowest of six bids which ranged up to 97,449. A grant will fund the work.
Formally declared District Justice Ron Antos' office on Idaho Street, Farrell, to need emergency repairs. The building developed mold due to a leaking roof, and commissioners informally authorized the repairs earlier this month. The office has been temporarily relocated to the Farrell City Building on Roemer Boulevard.
Ratified a three-year contract with Teamsters Local 250, which represents about 60 county jail guards. The contract provides raises in each year of the contract and for employee contributions to their health care costs beginning in 2008. The county prison board had approved the contract.
Hired Elizabeth Buchanan of Hermitage as community liaison for the Juvenile Probation Department at 30,480 annually.