New administration building to be built in township park

Trustees voted not to build on Messerly Road, despite resident input.

CANFIELD — Trustees have proceeded with plans for the new township administration building at the new township park on Herbert Road.

Trustees voted on Tuesday to sign a contract for design work on the new building with architect Thomas Keller.

A few residents have said they would rather see the building built on Messerly Road near the township road department. Dan Bienko, an architect and chairman of the township’s parkland committee, told trustees in April that it would cost more to bring utilities to a building on Herbert Road.

Trustee Randy Brashen said Tuesday he would not like to see the building built on “run-down Messerly Road,” even though it might cost more to bring utilities to the Herbert Road site.

He moved to sign the contract for Keller. Paul Moracco seconded, and Bill Reese, who lives across the road from the park, abstained.

The plan and costs

Reese said after the meeting that he does not believe it will be cost-prohibitive to bring utilities to the Herbert Road site. He said the entire park could be sewered for $70,000.

The trustees actually hired Keller in March, but the contract had to be reviewed by the county prosecutor’s office before trustees could sign it, Reese said.

Keller will hire Western Reserve Land Consultants to do a site plan for the park.

Reese said that trustees need to know an overall plan of the park and the best spot to put the building.

He said that once they know the building’s cost, which Keller will determine, then they can budget for other features in the park. They have a budget of $1.2 million to work with this year.

The park and the building will be paid for with money from the township’s hotel tax. Reese said he expects the township will also write for grants through the years to add features to the park.

Keller will take 6 percent of whatever the building costs for his fee, Reese said.