Mahoning Township has 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 Wednesday morning 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. Board Chairman Bruce Steigerwalt was opposed.

The purchase price was not discussed Wednesday, but previously the board said the building was listed at $549,000.

Also on a 3-1 vote, the board agreed to obtain the 20-year general obligation note from Mauch Chunk Trust. Steigerwalt was opposed.

That means the township will relocate its township offices and police department to the site on Route 443, west of Normal Square.

Supervisors have been looking at the building, at 2175 Blakeslee Blvd. Drive W., since last fall.

The building once housed the offices for Dr. Floriel Diaz.

The plan is to renovate the building, which includes 14 acres of land, and move the township offices and police department to the location.

Supervisor Brian Reeser said last month the township has been discussing new offices since 2003.

Additionally, the board on a 3-1 vote, with Steigerwalt opposed, agreed to sign an agreement subject to approval of locations where the owners will let Seitz do the drilling. Drilling/boring will be done at the building due to instances of mold in most rooms.

“I’d like to see a report from Seitz (Environmental Services) seeing which one is worse,” Steigerwalt said. “I’d like to see an explanation; what molds are most critical to remediate.”

Officials previously said Seitz Environmental Services has been checking the facility and has found instances of mold in most of the rooms there.

After the meeting, Steigerwalt explained why he voted against the motions.

“I’m opposed to buying the Diaz building,” he said. “It’s at the end of the township, and I don’t see moving the police from the central location (at the current building) to a location at the western end of the township.”

Further, Steigerwalt noted that the township has a new building designed to go right on property the township owns.

“I can’t see putting that money on a building that’s 50-60 years old,” he said. “This building is probably the same age.”

Supervisor Robert Slaw was absent.