Today was supposed to be the deadline for Farrell council to inform Mercer County commissioners about a proposal to build a district justice's office in the city. But at least one commissioner believes the city should get some more time.

On Feb. 18, the city received a letter from the county offering to build the office at Roemer Boulevard and Spearman Avenue, across Roemer from the post office, if the city agrees to pay for rough grading and final landscaping and to build a sidewalk and parking lot.

Council has pressed for the county to build the office at Spearman and Roemer and protested two other sites considered by commissioners.

Commissioners have resisted building at Spearman and Roemer because of the cost. The county is willing to build a 2,500-square-foot building there at an estimated cost of $245,000, with the city paying $80,000 to $100,000 for the site work.

Council responded with a letter asking that officials see the specifications for its part of the work.

Commissioner Kenneth Seamans said Thursday they had called architect John Gruitza late last week or early this week and told him to release the information to Farrell council.

City Manager LaVon Saternow said Thursday she had not received the specifications.

Monday, council members announced they were turning down the county's proposal because they had not received a timely response to their request and did not have enough information to make a decision.

"I think we probably ought to give them more time because they didn't get the information," Seamans said.

Seamans said he would have to talk to Commissioners Cloyd E. "Gene" Brenneman and Olivia M. Lazor, but favors giving Farrell council another week to respond.

"They should have a good idea what we are looking for," he said.

Mrs. Saternow said it would be up to council members to decide whether they are interested in accepting more time.

"Council does meet again Monday and I can put it to them at that time," she said.

At the commissioners meeting Thursday, the Rev. Martha J. Sanders of Farrell told the board she did not believe Farrell council had received the specifications and asked if there had been a communication breakdown.

"If there has been a breakdown of communication, it has not been from this end," Brenneman responded.

"To my knowledge, Gruitza sent the project specs to LaVon Saternow," Mrs. Lazor said, adding that she would check with Gruitza.

The office of District Justice Henry J. Russo in Hermitage serves Farrell, Hermitage, Shenango Township, Wheatland and West Middlesex.

The office is too small for the caseload it handles, and the building violates the fire code.

Employees have been dealing with another problem this week: They came to work Monday to find the office partly flooded.

While the electrical and computer systems were not affected, the odor the water left behind sickened some.