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Mahoning Twp. officials need new building
HILLSVILLE, Pa.
Mahoning Township’s administration building will not last another year, Supervisor Chairman Gary Pezzuolo said this week.
He asked for volunteers to sit on a committee to determine how best to build a new building which he estimated will cost $1.5 million.
Pezzuolo said the 1950s-era building has a badly leaking roof which can’t be repaired because the structure is too poor to support the weight of repairmen. He said the heating bills are $4,000 monthly and that the restrooms are not handicap accessible.
The 3,600-square-foot building with four truck bays has been added on to several times over the years. Pezzuolo said there are plans for a new township building to stand behind the current one on U.S. Route 224 next to the township park and the community building. Construction of a new building could be helped by sale of the Community Center, next to the township building.
Pezzuolo said this building also costs $4,000 monthly to heat and that the ceiling of the lower level is too low to convert it into a building which could house trucks and emergency vehicles.
Pezzuolo appointed Al Moran, chairman of the Mahoning Township Planning Commission, to head a committee to explore alternatives and report back to supervisors. He also asked the residents to volunteer to serve on a six-person committee to help Moran.
Pezzuolo said that ultimately, a new township building will have to be constructed, but what types of financing are available, what type of building should be built and other questions need to be answered.
He said the township had hoped to use money which would have come from the proposed racetrack/casino on U.S. Route 422 would have gone a long way toward financing a building. But the project has been so long delayed that other options must be considered.
In other matters, Greg DelPrincipe of RAR Engineers announced that a township sewer line is completed, and the sewer plant will begin operating in late January or February.
He said that residents will not get a notice to connect until February or March. Supervisors said that the tap-in fee will be $2,500. Grant and loan help will be available to residents to pay for the tap-in and connecting line.
Supervisors also passed the 2012 budget earlier this week. There will be no tax increase because of the proceeds from sale of the radio communications tower as well as $162,250 income from Marcellus Shale drilling on township property.
The budget includes 3 percent cost-of-living increases for all township employees and hiring of another part-time police officer.
The township will transfer 0.20 mills from the fire department to the police department because the fire truck will be paid off. The township also will be paying off a $59,000 loan for a 2012 dump truck.
A reorganization meeting was set for 6 p.m. Jan. 3, followed by the regular monthly meeting at 7 p.m.