GOSHEN TOWNSHIP Officials anticipate move into old school

The school district already has agreed to sell the building to the township.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
SALEM -- Goshen Township officials are planning to soon move into a new office that will allow them room to grow.
And they won't have to move very far.
"About 20 feet," said Clerk Karen Novak.
Trustees are negotiating with West Branch School District to buy the vacant Goshen Center Elementary School building, which is just about that far from the current township hall on state Route 165.
The school became vacant when West Branch built two new elementary school buildings last year.
"We really do need the space," Novak said. "We have no room anymore."
The township's current offices are in a one-room building directly beside the Goshen Center school. It houses the police department, township administrative offices and the trustees' meeting room.
Police Chief James D. Willock said the department roster has grown to 19 officers, far too many to squeeze into the tiny office space.
Deal details
Trustee Bob McCracken said a contract for the purchase is being reviewed by attorneys for the township and the school district. He expects a deal to be finalized soon.
The school district passed a resolution at its meeting last week authorizing the sale of the building to the township. McCracken said trustees would like to pass a resolution to buy the building at their meeting Monday, but it might not happen until Oct. 10.
"I really don't see anything coming up that will keep this from happening," McCracken said. "I'm 99.9 percent sure this will work out."
He said the trustees expect to pay $100,000 for the building and pay it over 10 years. The building's gymnasium, cafeteria, playground and baseball field will be made available to the public.
"We want to make it very usable for the township residents, even though we're using it for our facilities," McCracken said.
He was not sure what will happen to the current township hall once it becomes vacated.
"It's a fairly old building, so I'd like to see it saved and have some usefulness," McCracken added.
bjackson@vindy.com