The dedication of the new Ross Township Municipal Building on Saturday was a celebration of the completion of an envisioned project, but also the beginning of a fresh start.

The former municipal building is the site of a shooting on Aug. 5, 2013, during a township supervisor’s meeting.

Three people died and several were wounded.

Bernard Kozen and Mark Krashe wrestled shooter Rockne Newell to the ground.

“I give these folks a lot of credit for making this possible,” said state Sen. Mario Scavello about the new building. “The township supervisors did a great job.”

Scavello complimented the design of the new building, saying it was warm and inviting.

State Rep. Rosemary Brown added there is freshness about the building with modernized features. The building was designed by RAL Architecture and Design Inc. in Lewisburg.

The new building consists of an entranceway where residents can speak to township employees through secure windows, a meeting room for officials to hold public meetings, a fully functional kitchen, office space and restrooms that can be accessed from the outside next to the playground.

“The building was a joint effort,” said Tina Drake, a Ross Township supervisor.

It was made possible through a combination of grants, insurance and a loan. Scavello helped them get a grant of $369,900 through the Local Share Account fund. The township also received permission to use a former grant of $54,400 from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for composting toilets for the fully functioning restrooms.

The township also received $25,000 from insurance as a benefit for installing safety features.

“We wanted a secure building,” Drake said.

The new building was constructed with concrete walls and bulletproof glass, she said.

There is a fireproof room where important documents can be stored and it can serve as a secure room for people in the event of disaster.

With the total project costing about $700,000, the township pursued a construction loan of $400,000 at 2.5 percent interest, according to a statement from the township.

The funds will also cover administrative costs, engineering fees, architectural costs, wages cost overruns and customary costs affiliated with a construction project.

With a couple interest payments made in 2016, a principal payment of $25,000, and another in December, the township will begin 2018 with the principal balance on the loan at $350,000.

The municipal employees started using the building a couple months ago and the supervisors have held two public meetings there, Drake said.

Although this phase is completed, the township has more planned. She said they hope to one day have an amphitheater, more walking trails and expanding the playground. The largest piece of playground equipment was donated to the township by Playworld Systems Inc. in Lewisburg, which Drake said is beautiful.

Following the building dedication, the township held its Christmas tree lighting. Drake said they decided to do the dedication on the same day as the tree lighting, because residents would already be planning to come to the municipal building.

See more photos.