New Renovo Magistrates Office Progressing


by Barbara Mastriania

RENOVO – The Clinton County Commissioners had some good news for the Renovo area this week. 
 “DC3” –the new district magistrate’s office/district court — will be a priority goal this year, commissioner Jeff Snyder told members of the Community Trade Association Monday.
 The county is replacing the existing magistrate office on Third Street because it’s said to have mold and other problems with the building.

Snyder said he believes that building is repairable for other uses but not for a government facility.
 The county last year purchased the former Johnny Mattioli barbershop property on Erie Avenue. County employees having been working on-and-off since the purchase to renovate the interior to meet the requirements for a district court and magistrate’s office.

But the county employees working on the project have also been tending to county maintenance needs at other locations.

“DC3 Is a priority this year,” Snyder said. “We’re moving towards getting maintenance projects around the county completed so the men who are working on the building can come up to Renovo and spend more time here.”

Commissioner Pete Smeltz said the new site work is pretty far along. The electrical work is done and some dry walling and other work have been done.
 Replacement of the existing magistrate office in Renovo has been an ongoing project for several years. Several years ago the county purchased the former Pentz property on Renovo Road in Farwell.

The property was sold after bids to renovate the structure exceeded $400,000.The commissioners had budgeted $200,000 for a new facility. 
 The county subsequently purchased a property at Third Street and Erie Avenue. The plans were to construct a building on that property. But again construction estimates were above budgeted costs. Site preparation alone was estimated at $100,000. Subsequently the county purchased the Mattioli property where renovation is under way.