Pennsylvania Statutes Title 16 P.S. Counties § 5505. Acquiring and using real property; exceptions

(a) The county commissioners may purchase for not more than fair market value, take by gift, devise or by the power of eminent domain, in accordance with the provisions of this act, such real property at the county seat or in such other places, as may be authorized by law, as they deem necessary for the purposes of a county courthouse, county jail, prison, workhouse, detention house or other county building, either in acquisition of a building suitable for such purposes or in the construction of a new building, or in the alteration, including enlargement, of an existing county building. The fair market value of real property in the case of a purchase valued in excess of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) shall be determined by the county commissioners in consultation with two (2) of the following: the county assessor, a licensed real estate broker or licensed real estate appraiser doing business within the county.

(b) The county commissioners may also use any real property at the county seat or elsewhere, as authorized by law, owned by the county, and deemed suitable by them for the purposes aforesaid, except such property as is bound by contract to another public use.

(c) The county commissioners may provide for the grading, filling, draining, gardening and otherwise improving and maintaining of all lands for county buildings, either by contract or by county employes, as they deem proper.

(d) To the extent that any of the matters provided for herein are otherwise specifically provided for by law, with regard to any particular acquisitions of real property by counties, either by tax sales or by other purchases, this section shall not apply to such matters.