“If we have some additional money from the tax increment financing districts left over at the end of each year, we will use some of those funds to pay down the principal owed to shorten the length of the loan,” she said.
The township has put its old administrative building and township hall at 8524 N. Dixie Dr. and the old police building at 8526 N. Dixie Dr. up for sale, according to Lapensee. She added that the old township administrative building is more than 53 years-old.
The township’s government center is at 3510 Sudachi Drive, which also houses the Butler Township Police Department.
The township purchased the Sudachi building in 2011 and made renovations to accommodate administrative and police personnel.
“In October of 2012, we all moved to the building on Sudachi Drive. Both buildings were too small and needed extensive renovation to make them usable for the future,” Lapensee said. “We still use the township hall to hold our meetings for the trustees, BZA and the Zoning Commission. Last year, while discussing the renovations that are necessary to the fire station, we decided to move the township hall over to the fire station.”
The township will award the bid for the fire station on May 13. Construction could begin at the end of May or early June.
“We will gut the entire inside of the building and have redesigned the inside for a modern day fire station that complies with all new safety standards and codes,” Lapensee said.
The fire station building is in need of an upgrade, according to Butler Township Fire Chief Dan Alig.
“Now is probably the time (to make the upgrades),” Alig said. “The building is getting to the point that more and more stuff needs to be done and we’re afraid if we wait, it will cost more.”
The fire station, which was built in 1989, has some roof leaks, areas in need of new paint, and counters and cabinets are falling apart in the kitchen area.
“It was built for a volunteer fire department. Now there are seven to eight people living here around the clock,” Alig said.
Right now, the township, which partners with the city of Vandalia for fire service, has five firefighters and EMTs who work at the station around the clock. Vandalia has up to three people at that station.
The renovation will include increasing the dormitory space, updating the kitchen and workout space, Alig said. All mechanical systems in the building also will be replaced and new technology will be installed, Lapensee added.
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