Mercer County Commissioner Olivia Lazor said if she had known Farrell City Council members were against a new Shenango Valley Multi-Service Center being built in the Farrell City Park, it never would have been offered.

But it was city officials who suggested the park, she said Tuesday, a day after city council denounced the park proposal.

"That offer was made by the Farrell contingent," she said, adding that she had the offer in a letter from Mayor William Morocco.

"We’re being blasted when we never solicited any proposals," said Commissioner Brian Shipley to council’s criticism of himself and Ms. Lazor.

The center was in the former J.A. Farrell School for more than 20 years. An asbestos removal project from 1999 left it an empty shell, with activities temporarily moved to the Wheatland-Farrell Methodist Church, Wheatland.

The agency had proposed renovating the center but two other alternatives have been offered: building a new center on the Spearman site, leaving the old school untouched for now, and building a new center elsewhere.

Morocco said at a meeting with agency officials, the officials were talking like it had been decided not to use the Spearman site. That’s when he suggested City Park. He added that he made it clear he was speaking as only one member of council and did not know the wishes of the other six members.

Monday, Morocco came out in favor of the Spearman site.

Mrs. Lazor acknowledged Morocco said he was acting alone, but she asked him to discuss it with council.

Council members said a Spearman project could spur further development in the area. They want to reserve the City Park for a fully taxed project.

Mrs. Lazor, who sits on the agency board, said she has not decided what location she favors, although she wants to see the center stay in Farrell.

"Farrell has been a gracious host," she said. "We don’t want to turn our backs on Farrell."

She has several reservations about Spearman, starting with the fact that people have moved away from the neighborhood.

"If you have a senior center, it should be surrounded by residences," she said.

She also questioned how the area will fare in the future and whether further decline would hamper the county’s goal of serving as many people as possible.

Shipley said he is troubled by the city’s emphasis on industrial and commercial development in the area.

Mrs. Lazor added that the area -- the center’s front door is a stone’s throw away from Idaho Street -- has a public relations problem.

"There’s been no incidence that I’m aware of senior citizens going to that site," she said, referring to crime against seniors. "However, there is a perception. Perception drives public comment."

More people who live elsewhere in the Shenango Valley might be more willing to participate in center activities if it was located elsewhere, she said.

Shipley is not a member of the agency board, and he wants to leave the location decision up to the agency board. But he would have a vote on a proposal that the commissioners guarantee a bond issue to finance the project and he believes the Spearman site might deter fund raising for the project.

The agency is running a capital campaign and asking the Shenango Valley communities who receive federal Community Development Block Grants to contribute money for the project.

Sharon Mayor Robert T. Price said city council wants him to find money for the project and no one has told him of concerns about location. Hermitage City Manager Gary Hinkson said the city board of commissioners has not discussed location or funding as a group.

County Commissioner Cloyd "Gene" Brenneman said he’ll support whatever location the agency board chooses.

"As far as I’m concerned, we need a multi-service center," he said. "I don’t care where it’s at, but we need it soon."

The commissioners, who kicked off the capital campaign with a $5,000 check, might be willing to put some of the county’s CDBG money toward the project, Shipley said.