Hazleton office locations pondered

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Posted on Mon, Jan. 02, 2006

Hazleton office locations pondered

By STEVE MOCARSKY

Wilkes Barre,PA

smocarsky@... –

http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/13532816.htm

Luzerne County officials still haven't decided what to do about

reopening satellite offices in downtown Hazleton.

After mold was discovered in the Ford Building, the county

moved its satellite courthouse offices from there to an office

building in West Hazleton in September.

The mold was a result of a leaking roof and deteriorated downspouts.

Repairs to the roof, downspouts and walls recently were completed.

Mayor Louis Barletta wants to move the police department into the

Ford building to alleviate overcrowding in City Hall, and he hopes

the commissioners will consider moving at least some of the county

offices that would be " a good fit with the police department " back

in as well.

Such offices could include the magistrate, probation, legal services

and the prothonotary, he said.

In September, board of commissioners Chairman Greg Skrepenak said

the county " certainly wants to have a downtown presence in Hazleton. "

And Commissioner Todd Vonderheid said the county's next step will be

evaluating how many employees and offices should be in a Hazleton

annex, and how much space is necessary.

But after three months, Luzerne County Public Information Officer

Kathy Bozinski said no decisions have been reached. " At this point,

there's nothing specifically new to report, although a lot of

options are being looked at. We are still at the exploration stage

of getting some of our offices back into downtown Hazleton. "

Hazleton is the second-largest municipality in Luzerne County.

Barletta estimates the city's population at about 30,000, which

represents an approximate 30 percent increase from the numbers

reported in the 2000 census.

Bozinski said she believes the city would have to submit a proposal

for supplying office space at the former annex building because it

is county policy to advertise requests for proposals for items such

as office space.

She couldn't provide any time frame for when a request for proposals

for office space in Hazleton might be forthcoming.

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Steve Mocarsky, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 459-

2005.