Franklin Township’s new administration and police office building remains in the exploratory phase.

Township resident Ty Poole asked supervisors on Tuesday where things stood with the new building.

Board Chairman Fred Kemmerer Jr. said the township is “100% in the preliminary stages.”

A building committee is being formed, and Kemmerer said the plan was “to try to make it where it’s community-driven.”

Resident Jason Eidem said the township’s secretaries work hard for the township and would assuredly appreciate a new building with adequate space.

Kemmerer said the board will rely on the group of people who eventually will form the committee, and seek out assistance in applying for grants.

However, Supervisor Robin Cressley said grants are no sure thing.

“Everybody says get a grant,” Cressley said. “It’s not that easy.”

Township secretary Brenda Cressley said it appears the township has two people willing to serve on the committee.

Kemmerer said that however the board decides to create the committee, he wants to do it fast, but not too fast.

In his opinion, Kemmerer said it’s about finding a means to an end.

“We’re getting to that point,” he said. “I think that’s what we all want.”

In April, supervisors on a 2-0 vote approved the construction of a new administration and police office building.

Capital reserve building fund tax

In a related matter, supervisors on Tuesday denied a motion to eliminate the township’s capital reserve building fund tax of 0.537 mills.

Brenda Cressley noted that the tax brings in $56,374 in a year.

“But, we’re doing real well with interest,” she said.

Cressley said the township has been getting at least $5,000 a month.

In total, she said the township has $1,302,153.

Robin Cressley said that in the midst of building a building, it didn’t make sense to him.

Kemmerer said that while he’s not a fan of a tax, he definitely wants to know that there’s a means to an end.

“Maybe we have another meeting and see where we’re at,” Kemmerer said. “I think at this point it would be premature.”

Supervisor Jason Frey agreed, and added, “There’s got to be some kind of end game.”

Kemmerer added that the board was all in agreement that it’s not necessary.

Eidem questioned whether the board was even ready to make a decision on the matter.

Kemmerer reiterated his stance.

“I do not want this tax unless that building’s built,” he said. “The fund is for the building; there’s going to be a building.”

The former Carpenter’s Hobby Shop building at 903 Fairyland Road was recently demolished to make room for a new administration and police building.

The township has $1.2 million set aside in its PLGIT Capital Reserve Building Fund for the project.

After an executive session, supervisors agreed to pay the overage charge of $7,000, in addition to $27,500 in contractual costs, for the extra work completed during the demolition of the Hobby Shop building.

The township wants to have enough room to accommodate eight police officers, administration, zoning officer, zoning hearing board and/or supervisors for when they have to go into executive session.

The current township building is 2,800 square feet.

The township would build a new 7,500-square-foot building in between the former Hobby Shop site and current administration office.