Carbon to study JT admin building
Carbon County officials are moving forward with a feasibility study for the potential purchase of additional office space, even with the uncertainty of the owner putting the building on the market.
On Thursday, the board of commissioners, in a 2-1 vote, approved entering into an agreement with Boyle Construction Management of Allentown for a feasibility study of the Jim Thorpe School District Administration Building located at 410 Center Ave.
The study will include architectural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, civil engineering and environmental testing.
Commissioner Rocky Ahner cast the sole no vote.
The terms of the agreement include approximately $34,000 for engineering and architectural services in addition to Boyle Construction’s time and material rates.
Ahner said that he feels the county should first look at the courthouse to see how it could be reconfigured since some offices will be relocating to the 76 Susquehanna St. building in a few weeks.
“I’ve always heard let’s be proactive and not reactive,” he said. “It looks like we’re being reactive.”
During the July 14 school board meeting, Jim Thorpe voted 5-3 to enter into a contract with Hugh Dugan Realty to put the administration building on the market.
“I was told that they had buyers,” Ahner said. “I think we have to look at what we need in the courthouse and we need renovation here. ... I think we should finish some of these projects before we even know what’s going on here.”
He said that if the county keeps spending, it’s going to come back onto the taxpayers to pay the bills.
Commissioner Chris Lukasevich, who has been in discussions with the school district since 2020 about purchasing the building for county use, said he feels it is a viable option to meet the county’s needs.
He pointed out that the county sent a letter showing their interest in the site, adding that the county must first get the studies done to see what renovation costs would actually be.
Lukasevich echoed Ahner’s concerns regarding the “investment we are getting ready to make without any guarantee that our proposal would be seriously considered.”
“I’m concerned that we will invest $50,000 in this study and the school district will simply look at it, based upon the dollar figure, a little bit of a higher bid,” he said, adding that he is concerned that building may become section 8 housing, which wouldn’t be the best option for that area.
Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein said the county has been looking at the space issue for years because the location of the county seat does not provide much opportunity for building growth and the buildings that have been looked at in the past were more than what the county was allowed to spend based on county code.
He said that more space is needed and understands both commissioners’ thoughts.
“We are going to do our due diligence as far as the study and we can make that offer contingent on the study, and go from there,” Nothstein said, adding that if not, there are other options outside Jim Thorpe that can be used for some space expansion.
Controller Mark Sverchek pointed out that older buildings bring additional problems when it comes to renovating to create new space.
“Yes, I know we have a space problem and yes I know we need to solve our space problem,” Sverchek said. “ ... (but) I think the challenge in Jim Thorpe is the topography, the traffic pattern, the parking and of course it is on the tourist map of almost all tourists now. ... I think you have to think of a lot of things, not just the cost alone.”
In June, Jim Thorpe School Board voted 6-2 to place the building up for sale, but said the county could be the potential buyer.
At that meeting, Scott Pompa, board president, said selling the building could help with the district’s finances.
Last week, the commissioners tabled the action taken Thursday after learning of the district’s second vote to hire a Realtor for the building.