DJ office likely to be approved
CRANBERRY TWP — Plans to build a new district judge office are moving ahead after the township planning commission Monday night reviewed the plan.
The planning commission didn’t make a recommendation on the project, although Director of Community Development Ron Henshaw said the board next will likely give its approval to the plan.
The project has been in the works for several years, according to Butler County Commissioner Dale Pinkerton. The county bought .62 acres last year for the new building, which will be at 9028 Marshall Road near Rowan Elementary school.
The project is expected to cost about $700,000 for the 7,802 square foot building.
Pinkerton said Monday that building a district judge office makes financial sense for the county because the county paid more than $70,000 in rent for it office last year.
“It just makes sense overall for the county and for taxpayers to go ahead and build it so that we own it and it’s not quite as expensive as renting,” Pinkerton said.
The current district judge office on Executive Drive houses District Judge Dave Kovach and four of his staffers.
“My staff and I are excited about moving to a new courtroom,” Kovach said Monday, adding that his new office will be modeled after the district judge office in Slippery Rock.
For his part, Henshaw said the project is “shaping up pretty nice” even though it still has some hurdles to clear before being given final approval.
Henshaw added that the planning commission makes recommendations on whether to approve or decline the project, and that the township supervisors has the final say on the project.
The supervisors are expected to talk about the project at their meeting in March.
