It’s been a year
since an architectural firm unveiled a proposal for a new Palmer Township police station estimated to cost between $29.7 million and $32.6 million.
There’s been no action taken or even discussion at public meetings about the proposal unveiled in July 2024.
That’s because the supervisors know the plan is too expensive and aren’t sure how to move forward, according to supervisors’ Chairman Jeffrey Young.
“Palmer Township can’t come up with that kind of money to build a police station,” Young said.
A police station upgrade remains a priority, he said. The station is too cramped and too outdated.
So the township will need to secure grants to offset costs and figure out what it can afford to keep from the proposal and what has to go, Young said.
The township hired
Alloy 5 Architects
in
February 2024
to begin a feasibility study. The supervisors got an update from Alloy 5 in
April 2024
and a final report in
July 2024
.
Alloy 5 recommends building a new station just south of the parking lot in front of District Judge Susan Hutnik’s courtroom. The judge occupies the lower level of the township municipal complex.
Last year Alloy 5 representatives estimated it would take about 18 months to design the station and get approvals after the supervisors approve it. It would take 18 to 24 months to build the police station after that.
Young and Supervisor K. Michael Mitchell are not running for re-election. Their terms expire when new supervisors are sworn in in January. That motivates Young and Mitchell to find a compromise plan soon.
“Mike Mitchell and I want to get this process going before we leave office,” Young said.
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