LAKE MILTON Trustees to begin refurbishing police station

Trustees will seek grants to build a government complex.
By IAN HILL
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
LAKE MILTON -- Milton Township trustees are preparing to refurbish the police station, which was damaged earlier this year by a fire.
They have approved the $13,000 purchase of a conference table, copy machine, desk, chairs, computers and other office equipment destroyed by fire July 14.
The station is next to the township hall on Milton Avenue, just west of Mahoning Avenue.
Trustees also plan to put new siding on the station and to install new drywall and carpet.
"The structure is solid; it's just the interior," Trustee Loy Metzler said, adding the station's furnace, water tank and other appliances were not damaged.
Police have been operating out of a trailer in the township hall parking lot since the fire, which started when an ashtray of cigarette butts was tossed into a wastebasket. The state fire investigator ruled the cause accidental.
Trustees haven't determined when refurbishment will start, as they still have to find out if they must solicit bids for the work. Trustee Al Baker said the work should take 30 to 90 days.
Government complex
The work is slated to cost about $60,000, which is expected to by paid by insurance, trustees said. Insurance also is paying $700 per month to rent the double-wide trailer for police, Baker said.
Trustees are planning to apply for grants to build a government complex, which most likely would include space for the police department and the Ohio State Highway Patrol, as well as a courtroom and a township garage.
Baker noted that it could take some time to receive grants for the project. He said trustees decided to refurbish the station now, instead of waiting for the complex to be built, because they believe it would be too expensive to continue to rent the trailer for police while they wait for grants.
Metzler added that if the complex is built, the township would use the current facilities to house the township clerk and zoning and road departments.
hill@vindy.com