A vote on consolidating or merging Shenango Valley municipalities may or may not ever be held, but the Farrell City Building seems to be putting in its 2 cents worth.

The building -- or, at least, part of it -- is moving towards Sharon.

For several years, city officials have talked with experts about cracks forming in the fire station end of the building.

The north wall is moving northward toward Sharon, consulting engineer Ed Winslow told council Monday night.

Winslow said he believes material used to fill in the Haywood Run waterway is deteriorating, and water is getting behind the wall at foundation level.

The cracks seem to indicate the walls are moving and not settling, he said.

In 1999, cracks were sealed with a "tarry substance," Winslow said, and monitors were installed to keep tabs on the cracks.

Some of the cracks have not enlarged, but a wall in the lounge area seems to be moving about half a millimeter -- two-hundredths of an inch -- a year, and other cracks need to be repaired, Winslow said.

Two panels of limestone fascia have moved out about an inch and need to be replaced, he said.

None of the repairs will be very costly, he said.

Winslow said he will ask the city's street-improvement contractor, Roscoe Enterprise of Pittsburgh, to seal the cracks. Other work could be done in the spring, he said.

If the wall continues moving, the city likely will have to dig out around it and put in concrete to anchor it, Winslow said.

City officials said gaps have developed between the building and sidewalks on the south and east sides. Winslow said they should be filled with a bituminous material to keep water from getting in. The cost should be nominal, he said.

City Manager LaVon Saternow said one of the overhead garage doors in the fire station has developed a gap at the top, and replacement of the door is being considered.

The city building was built in 1979.