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<p>BUTLER TWP. &#8212; The supervisors unveiled plans for a new municipal building that may be built in the CANDO office park off state Route 309 at Tuesday night&#8217;s monthly meeting.</p><p>While there was little negative public comment, the supervisors held off on deciding to move forward, pending further deliberation.</p><p>However, a conceptual drawing and floor plan for the building was presented for public viewing by the architectural firm of Williams, Kinsman &amp; Lewis of Wilkes-Barre.</p><p>The proposed site for the building is five acres in the office park off Long Run Road, according to township Manager Marianne Petrilla. Petrilla said CANDO officials have agreed to a sale price of $100,000.</p><p>While the supervisors delayed a decision on the structure, they did give unanimous approval to a 2016 $3.1 million general fund budget, which keeps real estate taxes at 0.95505 mills. A mill is $1 in tax for every $1,000 of assessed property value.</p><p>Administratively, Butler also has a wastewater department budget of $1.4 million; a state fund budget of $298,895 and a fire fund budget of $66,780.</p><p>The supervisors also enacted a &#8220;Notification Ordinance,&#8221; which requires township officials to be notified in advance of any excavation, blasting or demolition project. The ordinance affects both contractors and private citizens, Solicitor Don Karpowich said, and provides for the imposition of fines for violators.</p><p>Karpowich said the intent of the ordinance is also to keep the public informed and landowners protected from any surprise projects on their property.</p><p>As far as the proposed building goes, police Chief Brian Sabatini presented the strongest case for new facilities. He outlined that the police are currently dealing with cramped quarters, mold issues in the holding cell areas and driving hazards on West Butler Drive.</p><p>Sabatini added that with an increase in population there is a need to improve response time and police services, all of which will be enhanced by new facilities.</p><p>Paul Lewis, of the architectural firm, pointed out that a major portion of the back of the building has been designed for the police, while the front will be for essential administrative services and space has been tentatively dedicated for the offices of a district judge.</p><p>The latter, Petrilla said, is conditioned on Luzerne County officials accepting a proposal to move the judicial offices. Overall, Lewis said the structure could encompass 15,000 square feet.</p><p>While $3 million was mentioned as a possible cost, Petrilla pointed out that will be determined after construction bids are advertised. She projected that financing could be through a mortgage as well as a prospective U.S. Department of Agriculture loan and a $1.5 million surplus Butler has in its coffers.</p><p>The supervisors also acted to seek grant funds for the expansion of Freedom Park and for a refurbishment project at Ferwood Music Camp.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">An artist conception of the new Butler Township municipal building in the CANDO office park. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_butlertwp.jpg</photo0><caption0>An artist conception of the new Butler Township municipal building in the CANDO office park. </caption0><photoCredit0>Submitted photo </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Tom Huntington</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach the Times Leader newsroom at 570-829-7242 or on Twitter @TLnews.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Butler Township unveils plans for municipal building