Mahoning to accept bids for headquarters
Mahoning Township supervisors voted to receive bids for renovations for its future headquarters on Route 443.
On a 4-0 vote Wednesday, they ratified an advertisement to receive bids for the building renovation at the former Diaz building at 2175 Blakeslee Blvd., Drive West. Supervisor Brian Reeser was absent.
Last month, supervisors on a 4-0 vote agreed to bid out the former Diaz building.
In July, supervisors and township police Chief Audie Mertz met at the site, west of Normal Square, with architect Jeffrey Biehn of Watkins Architect.
The purpose of that meeting was to again review the renovation project for the building that will eventually house the township’s offices and police department.
Biehn heard feedback from supervisors, including board Chairman Robert Slaw, who said he was on board as long as the price tag is under $1 million.
Supervisor Ronald Reeser said at that time he believed time was of the essence and it’s time to get moving on the former Diaz building.
Slaw then suggested the board get some prices from contractors.
In April 2022, supervisors reviewed preliminary drawings for the building and went over several schemes with the architect whom the township previously hired.
Slaw said the board was told that from when the township began the project at the former Diaz building two years ago, costs have gone up by about 30%.
In July 2021, supervisors voted to move forward with a settlement on the former Penn Medical building on Route 443, just west of Normal Square.
The plan is to renovate the building and move the township offices and police department to the location.
Once renovation work is completed, the Mahoning Township Police will use the lower level, and the township offices will be located on the second floor.
The purchase price of the property that includes the two-story building, as well as 14 acres of land, is $375,000. The property was assessed at $595,000.
Supervisors had been looking at the building since fall 2020, which once housed the offices for Dr. Floriel Diaz.
In 2021, supervisors agreed to move forward with the purchase of the former Penn Medical building to house its township offices and police department.
On a 3-1 vote, supervisors at a special meeting in June 2021 agreed to enact an ordinance authorizing and securing the issuance of a 20-year general obligation note in the maximum principal amount of $1.2 million. Then board Chairman Bruce Steigerwalt was opposed.
Also at that time on a 3-1 vote, the board agreed to obtain the 20-year general obligation note from Mauch Chunk Trust, with Steigerwalt opposed.
The township has been discussing new offices since 2003.