Weather delays work on district court office in Export

Wet weather has hindered ongoing work at District Judge Charles Conway's new office building in Export.

A rainy fall and not-so-cold winter have caused muddy conditions during construction of the 3,000-square-foot building between Grant Avenue and the Export Moose, said Jay Bandieramonte, construction and maintenance manager for the Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corp.

"We would have been much better if everything were frozen," he said. "The biggest problem is we've been fighting Mother Nature."

Even at the groundbreaking ceremony in September, tents were pitched to shield officials from rain. Bandieramonte estimated that the $636,000 project will be completed at the end of April.

A roof is up and crews are doing interior work. "They're putting the drywall up, doing the electrical work and such," Bandieramonte said.

Conway is still holding court in his Corporate Lane office.

The new building will be a "cookie-cutter" image of offices constructed in recent years for other district judges, Bandieramonte said.

Amenities will include security features for the staff and judge, such as separate entrances and restrooms. Holding cells will have improved safety features.

A fixed glass window will separate staff from the waiting room, replacing a sliding window that separates the two in the current office.

"It's much safer for the guards, it's much safer for the employees," as well as those there for hearings, Bandieramonte said.

Construction of the Export district judge's office is the fifth such project Westmoreland County has undertaken since 1999.

Special Courts Administrator Don Heagy said commissioners in the past decided it was more cost-effective to build new facilities rather than lease space in privately owned structures.

"Previous boards were interested, where feasible, to relieve the county of private leases," Heagy said. "Building justifies our existence in those facilities for 20 years or more."

The county has built district judge offices in Youngwood, Jeannette, Monessen and Allegheny Township.

Heagy said preliminary plans call for magistrate offices to be built in Scottdale and West Newton, with construction on those projects beginning later this year or early in 2013.

Part of the Export property, which was owned by the local Moose lodge, was sold to the Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corp. The borough owned the remainder of the land, which officials donated to the county.

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Weather delays work on district court office in Export