Luzerne County’s Courthouse Annex building at the corner of River and West Jackson streets in Wilkes-Barre was closed Wednesday morning due to a water supply issue, said county Acting Manager C. David Pedri.
The building houses offices that process county assessments, deeds, wills and marriage licenses, Pedri said.
Pennsylvania American Water spokesperson Susan Turcmanovich said the shut-off was necessary to replace a water valve on Jackson Street. The company alerted the county several times earlier this week about the planned halting of water service, which will take effect at 3 p.m., she said.
Turcmanovich said she could not provide an estimate of how long it will take to replace the valve.
The two-story annex could not remain open without water due to fire safety and sanitary reasons, Pedri said.
Managers from the impacted offices will be stationed at the county prothonotary’s office on the second floor of the courthouse, which is located across River Street, to accept filings of deed, wills, marriage license and assessment documents, Pedri said.
Union employees stationed at the annex were sent home Wednesday pending a review of their collective bargaining agreements to determine what work they can be required to perform in other offices until they regain access to their office computers and work stations, Pedri said.
“They are to report to work Thursday at the normal time,” he said.
