Clearfield County commissioners approve purchase of 318 East Locust, renew monitoring contract and OK inter-county inmate MOU

The Clearfield County Board of Commissioners on July 8 approved a series of motions that included the county's planned purchase of a downtown building for magistrate operations, renewal of an alarm-monitoring contract pending solicitor review, and an inter-county memorandum of understanding for emergency inmate housing.

The board voted to accept an agreement of sale for 318 East Locust Street in Clearfield for $312,000. Commissioners said the county would use the building to relocate the magistrate's office (Magistrate Morris's office is currently on Leonard Street), citing closer proximity to the courthouse, handicap access, on-site parking and nearby public parking. The sale is set to close Oct. 15, subject to contingencies written into the purchase agreement and approval by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC), a process described in the meeting as taking about 10 to 12 weeks.

The board approved routine county bills as presented, with Controller Edwards reporting a grand total of $2,000,305.39 across listed funds. Commissioners also approved personnel actions that included a new-hire security guard effective June 25, 2025, a Child Youth Services case worker hire (date discussed and corrected during the meeting), and a corrections officer separation/retirement effective in late June 2025.

Commissioners approved a five-year renewal with Johnson Controls for alarm and detection monitoring at $660 per year, with the motion carried subject to solicitor review. The board also approved a memorandum of understanding with Indiana County to house Clearfield County inmates in the event of an emergency, described during discussion as consistent with similar agreements the county maintains with other jurisdictions.

Separately, the board approved Resolution 2025, authorizing and requiring joint bidding of tax collector bonds for years 2026–2029. The resolution was described as part of the county's regular multi-year process to solicit bids for tax collector bonds.

Votes at a glance

- Salary board minutes and additional pay: The salary board approved minutes from the June 10, 2025 salary board meeting and approved additional pay of $400 biweekly for the assistant director of tourism while performing the duties of the vacant director position; the increase was described as retroactive in the transcript (text unclear). Motion carried.

- County bills: Commissioners approved the bills as presented (Controller Edwards reported a total of $2,000,305.39). Motion carried.

- Personnel changes: Commissioners approved listed hires and separations (new security guard effective 06/25/2025; CYS caseworker effective date discussed/corrected in meeting; corrections officer separation/retirement effective late June 2025). Motion carried.

- Johnson Controls: Approved renewal for alarm/detection monitoring at $660 per year for five years, pending final solicitor approval. Motion carried pending solicitor review.

- Indiana County MOU: Approved memorandum of understanding to house inmates in emergencies. Motion carried.

- Resolution 2025: Approved joint bidding authorization for tax collector bonds for 2026–2029. Motion carried.

- Agreement of sale, 318 East Locust Street: Approved purchase at $312,000; closing scheduled for Oct. 15 and contingent on required approvals including AOPC review. Motion carried.

Why it matters

Relocating the magistrate's office to 318 East Locust is intended to place magisterial services closer to the courthouse and consolidate court-related operations, which county officials said should ease logistics for police and court staff and provide accessible parking for the public. The Johnson Controls contract preserves the county's alarm monitoring service; the county described the term and cost in the meeting but deferred final sign-off to the solicitor. The inter-county MOU is intended to ensure the county has established arrangements to house inmates during emergency incidents.

Details and next steps

County staff noted that closing on the East Locust property will require the AOPC's procedural approval and that the county will schedule any necessary building work after closing. Commissioners said the magistrate lease being terminated is part of the broader plan to relocate operations once approvals and logistics are complete. The controller and clerks will proceed with the tax collector bond bidding process over the coming months as authorized by the resolution.

The meeting record also included a brief announcement that the county's ArcGIS parcel viewer has been upgraded and is functioning and a public reminder that the Clearfield County Fair begins this Friday. The board adjourned at 10:50 a.m.