All of the files within a folder collection directory must be Pine mail folders. To set up a site-wide folder collection, you need to create the directory and tell pine where it is. The folders within this directory do not all necessarily have to be owned by root. Each folder should be owned by the person responsible for maintaining it. Since root owns the directory, only root can create or delete a folder.
All users can read the folder, but only jjones can save messages into it or delete messages from it.
This is a hand-out that explains what Pine is and gives a guided tour for new users.