District judges seek office space
With the deadline to find office space for the newly aligned offices of four magisterial district judges in Fayette County quickly approaching, Fayette County Commissioner Angela M. Zimmerlink wants to get the word out that office space is still needed for one area, and soon. Office space has not yet been found for the Dunbar/Route 119 area, which will be the new office of Magisterial District Judge Dwight Shaner. The coverage area will include Dunbar, Upper and Lower Tyrone, Franklin and Perry townships and Dunbar, Vanderbilt, Dawson, Everson and Perryopolis boroughs.
The location is needed by Jan. 1, 2006. Zimmerlink said a minimum of 2,000 square feet and a minimum of 15 parking spaces is needed. She said there have been three inquiries for the office space, but none was acceptable. The inquiries have included one that was not within 30 minutes of the entire coverage area and two others that were for vacant land that would entail new construction.
Currently, the county pays leases on all 13 magisterial district judge offices, Zimmerlink said.
An order of the state Supreme Court closed five offices last year after a decline in the county’s population, taking Fayette from 13 district judges to eight by 2008.
As a part of the realignment, the offices of district judges Mike Defino, Brenda Cavalcante, Wendy Dennis and Michael Rubish were ordered closed, effective Jan. 1, 2006.
Zimmerlink said the county is negotiating with landlords for three of the four new sites and are very close to agreements. Those sites are North Union/Hopwood, Route 166/40 and the Fayette Business Park area near Fairchance. The commissioners must approve the leases.
The North Union/Hopwood site will be the new office of either District Judges Deberah Kula or Wendy Dennis, who will face off in the fall for the realigned seat. The winner will cover North Union, Wharton, Stewart and Henry Clay townships and Ohiopyle and Markleysburg boroughs.
The Route 166/40 site will likely be the new office of District Judge Mike Defino, whose realigned area will include Redstone, Brownsville and Luzerne townships and Brownsville Borough. Defino defeated current District Judge Herbert Mitchell on both the Democratic and Republic tickets in the spring primary.
The office in the Fairchance area will be the new office of District Judge Randy Abraham, who will cover Smithfield, Fairchance, Point Marion and Masontown boroughs and Georges, German, Nicholson and Springhill townships. He is absorbing the caseload of District Judge Brenda Calvalcante, who was not up for re-election and whose office is being closed. Rubish was also not up for re-election and his office is being closed.
Zimmerlink said she is hoping to find current office space because she doesn’t believe new construction is cost effective.
Anyone wishing to submit a proposal for the Dunbar/Route 119 area should contact Zimmerlink at 724-430-1200, ext 225; chief clerk Judy Bodkin at ext. 213; or county manager Warren Hughes at ext. 212.