Published Friday, January 24, 2003
of cost of new office
and Amanda Smith-Teutsch
Herald Staff Writers
Mercer County commissioners have agreed to talk with their architect about the cost of building a new district justice office at Spearman Avenue and Roemer Boulevard in Farrell.
The commissioners met with a majority of Farrell City Council and Mercer County Common Pleas President Judge Francis J. Fornelli Thursday to discuss the site of a new office for District Justice Henry J. Russo, Hermitage.
The county informed the city in December that it was planning to buy the former C's Waffle House building at 841 Sharon-New Castle Road from Garfar Inc. and renovate it for court use.
Council and Farrell Area School Board protested the choice because of its proximity to the school and Farrell City Centre, and that it would mean the loss of a taxable property.
Councilman Louis Falconi said council reiterated those reasons Thursday.
Council members have said they want the office at Spearman and Roemer, or they don't want it in Farrell.
The Rev. Martha J. Sanders told commissioners at their meeting earlier Thursday that the Shenango Valley Ministerial Association agrees with council.
"The proposed site ... is inappropriate and not in the best interest of the residents and others who frequent the area, such as school children and seniors," Rev. Sanders said.
The renovation and purchase of the former restaurant would cost the county $210,000, commissioners said, while Spearman and Roemer would cost $410,000 for the land, leveling of the property, the building and a parking lot.
The city spent more than $109,000 preparing the site, believing the county would buy the property for the new office.
Mrs. Lazor previously acknowledged that the commissioners had told council that they planned to build there, but she said Thursday the extra costs associated with the Spearman site, such as the $80,000 price of leveling the property, weren't anticipated and were part of the reason for the commissioners' change of heart.
Mrs. Lazor said commissioners treated the matter with "diligence" and nothing in the decision-making process was arbitrary.
But they also heard comments about the site beyond the objections of the city and school board.
"I hear the concerns of the community," Ms. Lazor said. "The county does want to be a good neighbor and good participant in the community."
Mrs. Lazor said the commissioners agreed to contact architect John Gruitza about his proposal for building a new building at Spearman and Roemer, and clarify the estimated cost.
Falconi said he believes commissioners should have asked Gruitza to revise his design to come up with a more economical one.
"They just went in and gave him an idea and he gave them a building that was beyond what they wanted to spend and they looked elsewhere," Falconi said, adding that council is not asking that "a Taj Mahal" be built.
"We have a difference of opinion over what the architect stated about the proposal at Spearman and Roemer," Mrs. Lazor said.
Falconi said he believes council "made some headway" with the commissioners, and public outcry probably had something to do with it.
Fornelli said he does not favor a specific site, and had signed off on both the sites in question and another one presented to him. By law, the president judge must approve the site.
Fornelli said he hopes the commissioners and council can agree on a site that satisfies council's desire and the county's quest for an affordable project.
"I believe they want to make a good effort to construct a building, if it's economical, at the site the city wants them to," he said.