Bringing an end to months of controversy and head-butting, Mercer County commissioners have approved locating District Justice Henry J. Russo's new offices at Idaho Street and Spearman Avenue in Farrell.

"I just want to say a great big amen," Commissioner Kenneth Seamans said Thursday. He has been the main liaison for the commissioners in the office-relocation project.

It's a "turn-key" deal, meaning that when the county pays for the project, Russo and his staff will be ready to move right in.

The $269,000 office project is being handled by Wesex Corp., a West Middlesex contractor. Farrell council recently voted to sell four lots at the former Farrell Plaza to Wesex for $2,000 plus costs.

As part of the deal, the county will buy a 3,024-square-foot condo in the building and be guaranteed at least 25 parking spots. Also, Seamans said, the county will have veto power as to who else can buy units in the building.

Russo's current office is at 1119 Mercer Ave. in Hermitage. It serves Farrell, Wheatland, Hermitage, West Middlesex and Shenango Township.

In the county's $34 million bond issue floated in 2001, provisions were made for new offices for Russo and District Justice William Fagley in Greenville. Commissioners had said there was a total of $300,000 to spend on each of the offices.

Fagley's office, which was completed in May, cost $297,000.

Farrell officials and residents spoke out during the entire process against the county's choices for relocating Russo's office.

After the county informed the city in December that it was planning to buy and renovate the former C's Waffle House building at 841 Sharon-New Castle Road, council and Farrell Area School Board protested the choice because it was across the street from the school and next to Farrell City Centre, as well as the loss of a taxable property.

Council wanted the offices moved to Spearman and Roemer Boulevard, across Roemer from the post office, but commissioners said it would cost $410,000 for the land, leveling of the property, the building and the parking lot, and later asked the city to foot part of the bill.

News of the commissioners' vote sat well with Farrell Mayor William Morocco and Councilman Robert Burich, though they and other council members had hoped to relocate to Spearman and Roemer. Morocco said he and council are "gratified" that commissioners worked through the difficulties that seemed to bind the project for awhile.

"We're pleased as punch," Morocco said. "Hopefully it will be a motivator for some other neighborhood commercial development down there."

"At least we're getting it in Farrell back where it belongs," Burich added. "I would rather Spearman and Roemer, but the location will be fine. It'll help dress up that area and hopefully start something down there so we can get it cleaned up a bit."

City Manager LaVon Saternow agreed that it would be nice to see some development there, adding that Wesex has an excellent reputation.

"Now the city needs to do its part in removing some of the buildings in the vicinity that need to be demolished. It is our intention to do that," she said.

Mercer County Common Pleas President Judge Francis J. Fornelli said he took an active role in determining where the office would be located when it became apparent that Farrell council and county commissioners were deadlocked.

"They were getting to the point where they weren't going to put the office in Farrell at all," Fornelli said. It was important to have the office there, he said, because most of the cases Russo hears come from Farrell. Also, it will be better to have the district court in the same city as the regional lockup.

"Instead of transporting prisoners out of town, it will be just a couple of blocks," he said.

Fornelli said he called Morocco and asked the mayor if he had any further suggestions about sites in Farrell.

After that, the county got in touch with Wesex and hammered out the deal, a move that will be good for both the county and Farrell, according to all parties involved.

"It has to be (good)," said Greg Koledin, executive vice president of Wesex. "There's no way that improving half a city block in Farrell, along with the paving and new facade, can do anything but help."

Commissioners echoed his sentiments.

"I think the location of the office will benefit the area," said Commissioner Olivia Lazor.

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