Former police barracks sold to Greenville man

Commissioners signed a deal to provide electricity to county facilities.

MERCER, Pa. — Mercer County commissioners have agreed to sell the old Pennsylvania State Police Barracks on Greenville Road to a Greenville man for $26,501.

They said Bretton Walberg was the only bidder. Commissioners had tried unsuccessfully to sell the building before.

They bought the old barracks for $100,000 in 1998 for storage. Commissioner John Lechner said the building has significantly deteriorated since then.

Also Thursday, commissioners agreed with county Controller Thomas Amundsen’s recommendation that they sign a two-year contract with First Energy of Akron to provide bulk-rate electricity to several county buildings including the courthouse, the jail, Children and Youth Services, Intermediate Punishment Program E-911 building, and domestic relations.

Amundsen said that while the increase will be about $29,000 per year, the contract locks in a kilowatt hourly rate. Increases for the buildings range from 6 percent to 20 percent but average 6 percent to 10 percent, he said. The contract runs from May 16 of this year to June 16, 2010.

Amundsen met with Bill Boyle, director of administrative services, and Fiscal Director John Logan to come up with the best alternative for purchasing electricity.

Commissioners also switched the contract for Internet services from Verizon to Armstrong Cable for a $600 monthly savings. Cost will be $420 monthly. The change will significantly increase the band width available to the county, officials said.

Commissioners also handled these matters :

URefunded $6,942 to Sandy Lake Properties LLC for 2006 and 2007 taxes. The refund comes from a successful assessment appeal filed on the industrial property which is located in Sandy Lake borough.

UAwarded Northeastern Mowing Service Inc., of Poland, a three-year contract to mow the county-owned dams. The $6,275 mowing cost includes two mowings per year and an additional $8,925 for a one-time lime application.