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North Strabane exploring options for municipal building

3 min read
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North Strabane Township supervisors Tuesday approved a proposal for a strategic facilities plan to assess the township’s present and future building needs.

The township hired Gateway Engineers to look at its infrastructure, including the municipal building built in 1977, and public works building, to determine the extent of renovation or construction necessary to make the buildings meet the needs of township employees and residents.

North Strabane Township is one of the fastest-growing communities in Southwestern Pennsylvania, and business manager Frank Siffrinn said expansions made to the municipal building in the past have reached capacity.

”We know we don’t have enough space. We know that with the existing facilities and plant that we are out of room,” said Siffrinn. “We will assess our current and future needs on a department-by-department basis and look at locations. Gateway, along with IKM Architects Inc. and LLI Engineers, will determine the extent of upgrading of existing systems that is necessary, and will provide the district with a cost estimate for construction or upgrades.”

The cost of the study is $52,500.

Siffrinn said the township has several options, including construction of a building to house administration and the police and fire departments, relocating the administrative building, or expanding the public safety building on Johnson Road.

”We have a lot of options,” said Siffrinn. “We’ll get answers as we look through the available options. The plan will provide some answers and specific cost estimates.”

The board also approved forming a five-person committee to work with Gateway throughout the planning process, which Siffrinn estimated will last between 6 and 8 months.

Appointed were Siffrinn, supervisors Brian Spicer and Rob Balogh, resident Mark Mansfield, who is assistant township manager for Upper St. Clair, and township firefighter Dave Zywan.

Also Tuesday, the board voted to terminate a management agreement with the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh, effective Dec. 31. The township is considering other options, including hiring a full-time director for the township’s $8.1 million park and sports complex.

Siffrinn said the township plans to approach the YMCA and ask the organization to reduce or eliminate the $2,343 monthly payments from North Strabane because few activities take place in October and November, and none is hosted in December.

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