CLARION, Pa. (EYT) – The future office of the Clarion County District Attorney will likely be located under the shadow of the courthouse.
Clarion County Commissioners Ted Tharan, Wayne Brosius, and Ed Heasley on Tuesday morning agreed to execute a $155,000.00 sales agreement for the purchase an existing property that will serve as Clarion County District Attorney Offices.
Owned by Jeff and Deborah Green, the property is located at 514 Liberty Street (adjacent to the Clarion Borough Municipal Parking Lot) and currently houses the offices of Family Chiropractic of Clarion.
Commissioners received a notice from current District Attorney Mark Aaron for the termination of a lease for 502 Liberty Street effective December 31. Aaron, who owns the property, provided advance notice for the lease termination, even though he was only required to provide a 30-day notice.
“We anticipated this might happen late last year when Mark announced he was going to run for Judge,” Tharan said.
“We set aside $500,000.00 in capital purchases in our budget in anticipation of something like this happening. We spent the summer looking and checking what we should do and how we should do it because of the critical nature of this office — there’s four offices that run out of the District Attorney Office. The DA, CNET, Drug Task Office, and the County Detectives. It’s important that the building remain secure and confidential and remains county property. We sort of ruled out leasing because that gives access to that building from outside entities that own the building, and we found that it was critical that we own the building.”
Tharan said there is just not enough space in the courthouse nor is it conducive to running sting operations.
“There wasn’t much of a selection. This building was not even on the radar until September when Jeff Green called and said he heard we might be needing a DA office and ‘I’m moving my office back to Knox and my building will be for sale.’ It never hit the market, and he called us.”
Closing date to complete the purchase is on or before October 15. Cost of moving the offices is $20,000.00 no matter where the office is located. The County Code dictate that the DA Office must be located in the county seat—Clarion Borough.
“We have to be out by December 31, and that’s why it’s critical that we act rapidly,” continued Tharan.
“The transition to the new office and having it up and running while they’re using the existing office puts us on the fast tract. We have to get fiber lines run there. We only want to move it one time. Clarion County Maintenance will complete any renovation work needed, but there isn’t much needed. It is ADA accessible, brand new heating and cooling system, a large dry basement, and new windows. The building is in good shape, and we are having an inspection and appraisal to see that we meet all county codes.”
Security is a major concern for the DA Offices, along with owning the building.
“We looked back, and we have spent approximately $282,000.00 in the last 19 years for rent of the DA’s office,” said Tharan. “If they would have purchased that building 19 years ago, we would still have a DA’s Office.
“We found it prudent and in the best interest of the County and finances to purchase the building mainly for the security of the building. Evidence going to trial has to be kept secure and the drug task force has confiscated drugs, so we can’t have access by owners or outside entities.”
DA-Apparent Drew Welsh approves of the new location and feels it would work for the operation.
As a rental property in the current agreement, Mark Aaron paid real estate taxes on the building as the owner. With a county purchase of the new building, it would mean it becomes a tax exempt property.
“We have to follow the law on this regarding tax exempt status. We are just dealing with the cards dealt to us,” Tharan said. “While we realize Clarion Borough, Clarion Area School District, and the county will lose some property taxes, we feel the purchase vs. rental, security requirements, and the requirement to have the office in Clarion Borough and close to the courthouse is the best deal for the taxpayers of Clarion County.”
