CLEARFIELD – A public hearing for a proposed property acquisition by Lawrence Township drew a packed house Tuesday night.
The hearing was for public comment concerning the township applying for a grant from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to purchase the Mill Road Social Hall.
Engineer Chris Bohley, with Hughes Engineering, gave a brief presentation on what was being proposed. He said the township is exploring whether it is feasible to turn the social hall into a community recreation center. He said possible plans or ideas might include using the ‘transformed’ social hall as a recreation center for basketball, handball, an indoor walking circuit dancing classes, and craft classes, to name a few. He said the idea was for the public to provide additional use ideas or to see if the public believed it was a worthwhile venture.
Lawrence Fire Co. 1 Fire Chief Jas Catherman said the building is currently being used for Bingo once a week as well as wedding receptions. He said the social hall was built as a financing vehicle to pay for the fire hall, which has been paid off.
“It’s served its purpose,” said Catherman.
The social hall itself still has a debt of over $300,000. A recent appraisal, done on March 25, valued the social hall at $850,000. The fire department currently pays about $2,000 a month on the building, not including utilities.
As part of the grant process, a match must be provided by one of the parties involved. With the township acting as the applicant for the grant, the fire department would donate the equity of the property as the match for the grant amount. According to Catherman, no debt would be incurred by taxpayers.
Catherman said the fire department also considered offering a maintenance agreement to the township, which would put maintenance in the hands of the fire department. Supervisor Ed Brown asked if it would be possible to form an escrow fund to help pay.
“Currently they’re maintaining it and paying a mortgage,” said Supervisor Glenn Johnston. “The grant would make the property debt free. The fire department would then operate it.”
Johnston also said he was trying to understand the proposition as he’d only just learned of it.
One resident in attendance said it was a no-lose situation for the fire department, noting that they would lose their debt and retain control over their former property. One resident asked where the money would go to. One official answered it would go back to the fire department.
Another resident questioned competing with the new YMCA building. Another resident asked if grant money could be obtained for the former Target building, which the township owns.
“That building’s been put to good use,” said Brown.
DCNR Recreation and Parks Advisor Kim McCullough indicated the Target building would not be eligible for the fund.
Another issued discussed was why the township was considering purchasing the social hall when it may be available for sale to the private sector, and thus, taxable. Officials said the building was not in a commercial zone.
“It’s a good building for what it was built for,” said one resident. “Let it pay itself off.”
“Personally, if I’m the fire department, I’d keep it,” said Johnston.
Jeff Ogden, of the Recreation and Park Board, asked where his board comes into the scenario. He said he only just learned of this potential situation as well. He also questioned the township having two entities that would go after competitive grant funding for projects.
Brown asked Catherman if the fire department would consider letting the Rec. Board handle the recreation activities at the building. He indicated that he could not speak for the fire department and said they could explore it, and that he never knew the township had a recreation board.
As part of the process, questionnaires will be available at the township building later this week or Monday. The next public hearing will be held on April 12 at 7 p.m. at the township building. Because the grant is due April 21, a decision regarding the issue can be expected at that meeting.
