Officials want county to consider housing coroner at former McFarland Funeral Home
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WARREN -- Three elected officials want Trumbull County commissioners to look into buying a closed funeral home to house the county coroner's office and morgue.
Trumbull County Prosecutor Dennis Watkins, Sheriff Paul Monroe and coroner Dr. Thomas James signed a letter Monday to commissioners asking them to consider buying the former McFarland Funeral Home, most recently known as the McFarland-Barbee Funeral Home.
The 271 N. Park Ave. property is owned by a company in Mark Barbee's name, the man who ran the McFarland-Barbee Funeral Home for 18 months before announcing it would close in July.
Barbee filed in August for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, according to court records, so it is unclear how the proceedings will affect the possible sale of the building.
The funeral home was operated for more than 120 years under the McFarland name.
The building was built in 1864, the Civil War era, said James McFarland, a fourth generation owner of the business who sold it to Barbee after the two co-operated it. Barbee bought the building in February 2018 for $300,000, according to Trumbull County auditor records. It is current on property taxes.
Attempts to reach Barbee Tuesday were unsuccessful.
The letter's signatories are under the impression the building is for sale. The building is in close proximity to the Trumbull County Administration Building, 160 High St. NW, and the sheriff's office, the letter states. If the office of the coroner were moved there, it would save employees in the prosecutor's office, the sheriff's office and Warren police trips to the current coroner's office at 2931 Youngstown Road SE, 2.5 miles from the funeral home.
"The location of this structure and property would be more efficient for intra-county business, and a perfect fit with many of the other county offices that work with the coroner's office," the letter states. "Specifically, the coroner's office regularly works with the sheriff's office, the prosecutor's office and the courts, which are all located steps away from the McFarland property."
There would be enough space for coroner's office employees, along with space for a county morgue, the letter states. The sheriff's office could use some of the space, perhaps for training, and the purchase would also add more parking to the area, according to the letter.
Watkins encouraged commissioners to inspect the space and consider a fair price. Commissioners also could consider grants and public / private cooperation to maintain the historic structure.
The commissioners could consider establishing the McFarland building as an historical landmark and then put it to public use, as was done with the Perkins Mansion -- home to Warren City Hall -- and the Kinsman House -- the Warren Heritage Center -- the letter states.
Julie Green, Trumbull County grants manager and interim director of the Trumbull County Planning Commission, said her office would research all options.
Commissioner Mauro Cantalamessa said the proposal deserves consideration and review.
"There are obvious benefits to having a more centralized and comprehensive setting for justice-related county departments. As commissioners, we must always be careful and weigh those benefits against the cost."
McFarland said the building is in good condition, but noted that he has no claim to what happens to it.
"From a preservationist perspective, we hate to lose any old buildings. It is a grand old building, and we maintained it well. It is probably the best maintained older buildings in Warren," McFarland said. "I hope it is preserved and maintained as an integral part of history downtown."