CLARION, Pa. (EYT) — An option to purchase vacant land adjacent to the Clarion County Jail in Paint Township for the possible construction of a new 911/OES building was approved Tuesday morning by Clarion County Commissioners at a regular meeting.

(Photo: Possible site of a new OES/911 Center with the Clarion County Jail in the background.)

Commissioner Butch Campbell said the county’s solicitor would review the option with Patrick Hill Associates LLC of Leeper that includes a $100,000 purchase price. The property was used for many years as an informal baseball field.

All three Clarion County Commissioners approved the option on land, including Campbell, Wayne Brosius, and Greg Faller.

If certain approvals and conditions met, Campbell admitted that the previous location near the old jail along Liberty Street in Clarion will no longer be considered, but nothing is off the table until preliminary actions are completed for the Paint Township site.

“There are several things that County needs to do before closing on the purchase of this. Obviously an appraisal and title search will need to be done, as well as jumping through a couple hoops — making sure that we are permitted sewer and water taps and the ability to put up a 100 ft. antenna to make line of sight connectivity with Trinity Point.  All of those things tentatively can be done, but we need to do them before we close on the property,” said Campbell.

Campbell said he did not have a cost estimate for the new building.  “We had approved EADS to do a preliminary design, but the designs did not include heating ventilation, air conditioning, electrical supplies and the design was for a much larger structure.”

On a related issue Commissioner approved an appraisal of the vacant property by Reed Appraisal Services of Clarion at a cost of $400.