Mercer County officials are "looking harder" at a vacant plaza in Farrell as the site for a new district justice's office, said Commissioner Kenneth Seamans.

The building at Spearman Avenue and Idaho Street has been appraised and a contractor has gone through it, he said. Officials have questions about the building, such as the strength of the roof and if there is any asbestos in it and are waiting for owner Wesex Corp. to respond.

Commissioners have received two other proposals -- to build on vacant land at Chestnut Street and Council Avenue in Wheatland and trade land with Frank Martuccio Asphalt and Paving Inc. so the current office of District Justice Henry J. Russo, Hermitage, can expand -- but are focusing on the Wesex property, Seamans said.

"We'd rather go to Farrell if it's possible," he said. "If it's possible, I personally would like to go there."

Seamans added that not all county officials are convinced the site is feasible.

If county officials decide they like the site, they will have to approach Farrell City Council, Seamans said, but city officials already are aware of the proposal.

Even though the relationship between council and commissioners soured when the commissioners chose to move the office to the former C's Waffle House on Sharon-New Castle Road over the objections of council and Farrell Area School District -- the building's owner eventually rescinded his offer -- council was contacted about other sites.

Mayor William A. Morocco Sr. said Mercer County Common Pleas Court President Judge Francis J. Fornelli, who must approve the court office site, called him and asked if there were other places in town that could house the court.

Fornelli has said he would like the court to be in Farrell because of the demographics of the cases that are heard there.

Morocco said he told the judge about the Wesex property, which had been nixed in earlier discussions, and Wesex was contacted. The company presented its proposal to the county.

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