Franklin Township is in search of bond counsel and a grant writer to assist with its proposed new administration and police office building.

On a 2-0 vote, supervisors moved forward last week. Supervisor Leroy Kemmerer Jr. was absent.

Resident Jill Renfrew inquired about a grant writer and the township looking for LSA grants for 2025.

Board Chairman Fred Kemmerer Jr. said the township isn’t because it’s more of a courtesy thing.

Supervisor Robin Cressley shared his thoughts.

“I said we should have one (grant writer) for years we should have on staff that they work off a percentage, they come to us and tell us what grants are out there, and if we want to pursue that, and with this building here, if we choose to build new, there might be grants out there for police more so than other kinds of stuff,” Cressley said.

“They usually work off commission; a percentage of what the grants were, we’d have the deciding factor you know to do what we want or pursue that for that grant or this grant.”

Kemmerer took it a step further.

“We’re just looking for a way to offset some of the potential costs and the burden that our taxpayers may have,” Kemmerer said. “If we move forward with certain things and I think that it’s owed to the community to attempt to get the grant money before we were to just spend the money that we have.”

Renfrew then asked if the board had a strategic timeline to start the building project.

Kemmerer said it does not.

“We know we have a certain amount of money put aside, and that money has to be utilized in the best way,” he said. “I want to make sure that we have the grant aspect of it covered, and I want to make sure that we have our finances covered the best way that we can possibly do it so that it’s the least impact on the residents.

“Right now we’re still in that stage where we have the land, we (demolished) the building that was on that land. We have been taking steps quietly toward that building for three years, and we’re going to keep that path.

“We have a building group, which is something that’s far more than most to try to get to a certain point. So we are moving in the right direction, but I don’t think that we’re moving in a direction where we can put timelines on it.”

Kemmerer said he’s not going to rush it.

“It’s been 25 years since we’ve been taxed as residents,” he said. “I think time is on our side, especially now how we have money that’s put aside, and it’s a credit to the supervisors in the past that decided to do so, so credit to them that we’re in a position now that’s much better than must municipalities are.”

In February, the board named Larry Diehl as lead contact person for a committee to oversee a new administration and police office building. The committee includes Stan Graver, Kirk Cressley, Daniel Zeigler, Terry Shaner, Leon Kamowaki, Ty Poole and Diehl.

The group will see out assistance in applying for grants.

Fred Kemmerer Jr. said the board believes the committee will add perspective and bring input from the community.

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.