CLARION, Pa. (EYT) – Clarion County Commissioners unanimously approved a purchase/sale agreement with Paul and Marjorie Smith of Clarion for the purchase of the former Goodwill Building located at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Liberty Street in Clarion at a cost of $319,000 with a $20,000 refundable deposit.
Commissioner Chairman Ted Tharan explained that if the building were purchased, County offices in rented properties would be moved to the building. The actual offices moving have not yet been determined. The building site, which includes 22 parking spaces, also previously housed grocery stores, Golden Dawn and A&P.
“We are currently paying approximately $150,000 a year in rent for offices,” said Tharan. “That’s an ongoing expense and the only way to stop that is to move them into your buildings where you don’t have any rent. Figuring it out over a 10-year period, that’s $1.5 million over the next ten years and we would have nothing. We’ve put this office project together for $318,000 and say another $300,000 in it (for modifications). That’s $600,000 for 8,000 square feet and at the current rate of $12 per square foot, that’s $96,000 a year minus other incidentals and utilities and we could probably save $80,000 a year going forward. Would you rather spend $1.5 million or save $80,000 a year? It’s a pretty simple equation when you look at it.”
Tharan said the purchase of the building would not require a tax increase and would come from the General Fund using money budgeted this year for a new 911 Center.
One impact of Clarion County purchasing the building would be the loss of tax revenue for Clarion County, Clarion Borough, and Clarion Area School District because it would be taken off the tax rolls. Currently Clarion County receives, $1,848 in property taxes, Clarion Borough receives $1,848, and Clarion Area School District receives $5,521.32
Solicitor White explained the agreement holds the property for Clarion County until it is actually purchased.
“I think from the county’s perspective, it’s centrally located and it’s an open floor plan,” said White. “If it’s suitable for our needs we wouldn’t have to go in for a lot of tearing down.”
White said the open floor plan could be used to fit county needs depending on what offices would move there.
Voting to approve the purchase/sale agreement were Tharan, Wayne Brosius, and Ed Heasley.
