DALLAS TWP. — Township supervisors Tuesday gave their stamp of approval to acquire a USDA bond to purchase the former Hildebrandt Learning Center headquarters.
The $1 million bond is through the Department of Agriculture with a fixed interest rate of 3.375 percent over 35 years, said Brian Koscelansky, bond counsel for Dallas Township.
“So, right now, the state is looking at (a sales) closing date of April 27,” Koscelansky said.
Dallas Township supervisors intend to relocate municipal administrative offices to the former childcare headquarters at 105 Lt. Michael Cleary Drive.
The 8,136-square-foot building’s price tag of $1,315,000 will be partially funded through the $1 million USDA bond.
The remaining costs will be funded from a $3 million surplus held by the township, and the estimated annual payment would be $51,340, Supervisor William Grant said in a previous interview.
The three-floor building will house the township police department on the basement level. The main floor will hold municipal offices for the secretary, zoning and code enforcement officer, police chief and a public meeting room.
State Rep. Karen Boback, R-Harveys Lake, is planning to lease a 1,000-square-foot office space on the third floor for $12,000 a year.
Also, supervisors agreed to use local architects Williams, Kinsman & Lewis, of Wilkes-Barre, to plan required basement renovations to accommodate the police department.
Dallas Township Police Chief Douglas J. Higgins said he recently applied for a grant to help reduce the cost for police lockers in the new building.
“We should know in about two months if we are awarded any of that,” Higgins said.
In other news …
• Township Zoning and Code Enforcement officer Carl Alber requested supervisors enact a contractor registration ordinance to help protect residents from illegitimate builders.
“Last year we had some incidents with some residents in Dallas Township being taken by contractors,” Alber said. “We had one resident taken for $10,000 last year for paving a driveway that won’t last six months.”
Alber proposes contractors be required to register with the township before accepting jobs in the municipality.
The free registration would require contractors to provide proof of insurance and, if they are a home improvement contractor, show their license, Alber said.
“There would be a fine citation through the magistrate if they do not register,” he said.
Municipal attorney Thomas Brennan will look over Alber’s proposal and have it ready for the next meeting.
“We could have it (ordinance) in place by May,” Brennan said.
“I think it is a good thing,” Supervisor Chairman Frank E. Wagner said. “Residents could call here and ask if they (a contractor) is a registered contractor; if not, that might send signals to them as to why aren’t they registered.”
• Police Chief Higgins is working to establish a community and business crime watch program in the municipality.
Township Roadmaster Martin Barry provided quotes for Crime Watch signs to be installed for free by the Road Department, Higgins said.
“I think I can get a grant for that funding,” Higgins said.
• Fellowship Church received a conditional use approval for a planned expansion of its site at 45 Hildebrandt Road.
Church officials want to close in a courtyard area between two existing buildings, said Adam Wise, a church board member.
The expansion plan will go before the township’s Planning Commission to seek land development approval, said Keith A. Miller, project engineer with Bassett Engineering Inc. of Montoursville.
The next supervisor meeting is slated for 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 3, in the municipal building.
