CHASE BOTTORF/THE EXPRESS Empty parking spaces in the Church Street parking lot may eventually become Lock Haven’s new police station, pending future actions from city council.

PHOTO PROVIDED
This aerial rendering shows the Church Street Parking Lot, with the proposed new police station occupying the lower right.

LOCK HAVEN — A years-long discussion regarding the future of Lock Haven City Hall and the departments it houses may be nearing a close.

City council, in a 5-2 vote, directed staff to look further into the potential construction of a one-story police station in a portion of the city-owned Church Street parking lot. The lot is located across the street from the current building.

The proposed $2.4 million structure would be 6,500 square feet and be located on the eastern portion of the lot. The cost equates to $325 per square foot.

Although placing a building in one third of the parking lot would remove a number of parking spaces, both metered and unmetered, city Building Code Official Cyndi Walker told The Express it wouldn’t have a huge impact.

Walker said the meter enforcement employees conducted a survey of the parking lot in February to get an estimate on how many parking spots are used or not used. The survey took place Feb. 6-10 and Feb. 14-17 this year. She stressed the numbers from this survey are only preliminary.

Walker said there are 65 total spots in the parking lot – of that number 58 are metered and 7 are unmetered. The city currently has 5 24-hour permits for the Church Street lot and 23 metered permits.

According to the survey, on average, the lot saw roughly 34 spaces unused.

Walker said, if the proposed building were to be constructed, spaces would be lost, but 4-5 would be added when that portion of the lot would be blocked off at the thru-ways on the eastern side. This includes handi-cap parking as well, she said.

“That means we’ll have a total of 50 spaces,” she said. Based on the data collected by meter enforcement, Walker estimates 15 spaces would be lost which is roughly half the number that isn’t used on average.

The current spaces would need to be reconfigured to keep permitted parking in mind — the current layout has 24-hour parking in the eastern part of the lot.

Walker noted city staff will also look into the potential installation of on-street parking along Church Street in front of the proposed police station. That possibility would be dependent on approval from PennDOT, which maintains Church Street (a portion of state Route 150).

“My best estimate — because we will have to allow for site distance on Mill Street — I anticipate we could probably get two or three parking spaces there. If PennDOT allows for it,” she said.

Walker said the proposal also includes potential parking along Mill Street for police officers while on duty. This proposal is one that is similar to the current City Hall layout, which allows officers to park along Liberty Street while on duty, she said.

To create parking, Walker said the city would create it in the gravel portion along the roadway that runs parallel to the parking lot and Mill Street. This would mean the spaces would potentially bleed into Mill Street by about two feet, she said.

In terms of the building design, City Manager Greg Wilson told council Monday night that staff worked with the city’s architect, Buchart Horn, to create the proposed designs.

There is also the potential for half the project to be paid for through a federal grant, he said.

“Through the efforts of City Planner Abbey Roberts, US Senator (Bob) Casey has agreed to place a $1 million grant into this year’s federal appropriation bill which, if adopted by Congress and signed by the president, will be available toward the project,” Wilson said. He noted the grant could only be used to create a new facility, not rehabilitate an old one.

The remaining cost would come from the city’s $2.4 million balance from its 2021 borrowing package, he said.

This balance, as reported in the past, is the city government’s borrowing limit at this time.

If the plan to construct the facility would come to be, Wilson said the remainder of city staff would potentially be moved to vacant space at the Annie Halenbake Ross Library — a property the city currently owns — while renovation options are considered.

“We will then continue to pursue integrating the remaining city staff into the library facility as the primary location, with new construction and refurbishment pending the results of the DCED granted facility study of the same,” Wilson said.

The proposed space is the existing outdoor patio area near the parking spaces of the library which typically houses the library’s annual book sale.

Proposed plans would see it enclosed and converted into office space.

According to Wilson, roughly nine to 10 employees are still housed at the current City Hall at 20 E. Church St. along with the police department.

Mayor Joel Long and Councilmember Richard Morris voted against the proposal. Both expressed their belief the current facility should be improved, rather than building a new one.

“I believe you should take what you’ve got and make the best of it,” Morris said.

In terms of the proposed plan to move staff to the Ross Library, he said the potential space didn’t feel right.

“As someone who served on that board in the past, I’ve found it difficult to envision that space as an attractive one for people to work in,” he said.

He also posed the question on what would be done with the current facility once things are moved.

“I’m frankly not thrilled with this proposal,” he said.

Long told council and the public he didn’t feel right separating city government more than it already was.

“But council has seven people on it for a reason,” he said.

Other members of council expressed their support of the move for various reasons.

Councilmember Rick Conklin said shifting departments within the current building doesn’t solve the long-standing problems the current facility has.

“My bigger concern is, even if we use $1.6-$1.8 million and we move the police department to this floor we end up with the exact same facility,” he said. “It doesn’t solve the problems this facility and this structure has.”

Conklin acknowledged that, having served on council for 16 years, himself and past members were partially to blame for the facility’s current state.

“We did one thing in the 16 years I’ve been on council. So, I’m partially to blame for that,” he said.

Councilmember Jeff Brinker, who attended Monday’s meeting virtually, said he felt the plan was a good one.

“I think it’s a win-win for the taxpayers,” he said. Brinker noted the proposed plan would consolidate staff and utilize space that currently is unused in the Ross Library, while providing the police department with much-needed upgrades.

“I think this is an exciting opportunity,” he said.