LOCK HAVEN — Discussions surrounding the planned construction of a Lock Haven Police Building continued Monday night, as city staff relayed they are working to bridge a funding gap.

According to information provided by City Planner/Interim Manager Abbey Roberts, the total low bid for the building construction came in at $4,440,328. The city currently has $3.2 million budgeted for the project between a $1 million USDA Community Facilities Grant, $500,000 in a Local Share Program Grant and $2.1 million in a 2021A Borrowing note from Northwest Bank.

Roberts said city staff, along with contracted architect Buchart Horn, went back to the drawing board to try and shave off some of the $1.2 million in excess to bridge the gap.

“We went back to the drawing board to cut things from this project. We’re really trying to make it happen. We cut some things, adjusted some things, had conversations with public works on what they could do in terms of water and sewer lines, digging and sidewalk work,” she said.

Buchart Horn, in a memo presented to council, provided the following cost-saving revisions:

— Eliminate over-excavation and request a unit price for soil removal if required.

— Replace roof access stairs with a ship’s ladder and Bilco-style hatch.

— Lower roof edge parapet to the roof level.

— Replace exterior face masonry with metal panel systems.

— Replace locker room tile with FRP wall panels.

— Eliminate sally port enclosure.

— Eliminate parking lot fencing.

— Replace face masonry in interior parking areas with painted CMU.

— Remove sidewalks and curbs from the General Contract (to be provided by the city).

— Remove water and sewer utility extensions from the contract (city provided).

— Remove stormwater piping from the contract (city provided).

— Remove evidence storage equipment from the contract.

— Remove lockers from the contract.

— Remove general cabinetry and storage from the contract.

Roberts noted staff have made additional adjustments that would be included.

With these cuts, Roberts said the city — if it rebids general constructing — would see a savings between $600,000 to $750,000.

Staff is also looking into other methods to secure funding needed to complete the project, which has been years in the making.

“We had a conversation with Mark Long from Senator (Cris) Dush’s office. He actually toured the facility (here) earlier this afternoon and we’re talking with Rep. (Stephanie) Borowicz’s office,” she said, noting staff is also speaking with representatives from US Senator John Fetterman’s office.

She told council the hope is the state may be able to provide GAP funding to ensure the building is completed.

“Senator Dush is very supportive of the public safety sector and things that are necessary. By us cutting things we’re showing our good faith and not having a cushy building,” she said.

Roberts acknowledged it would be a quick turn around, with bids expected to be brought to council at its April 20 meeting. Dush’s office will likely not be able to immediately provide information on what funding sources the state can provide by that time, as well.

This rebid timeline will ensure construction on the project can still begin in May and be completed before the deadline of use for the Local Share Grant, Roberts said. The USDA grant funding must be used by September of 2030.

Councilmember Tami Brannan asked what would happen to the grant funding if the city is unable to move ahead with the project.

Roberts said the city could lose the Local Share Grant, given the deadline is June 30, 2027.

“If we push it any further, that contract will be ended and we cannot extend the end of this contract. We already asked and they said no,” she said.

As for the USDA, though it has a longer completion deadline, the city can flex the start-time but it must be finished by September 2030.

“We did say the use of funds would be used to construct a new police station,” she added.

She added the city’s 2021A borrowing note is also a factor. These borrowed funds were approved with a 1.33 percent interest rate, which she said would not be possible currently.

“We have dedicated that amount with Northwest Bank for the new police building,” she said, adding that if the funds weren’t to be used per the contract, it would need to be paid to Northwest and interest incurred paid to the IRS. As it stands, the bond has collected $35,225 in interest.

“Basically, if the project does not continue as it’s scoped out right now, we will lose $2.6 million of funding we have on the table right now for this project and possibly eat into, if not lose, the $1 million from USDA,” she said.

Roberts acknowledged the city is currently in a tight situation, but staff is working diligently to close the gap.

“It’s a necessity, we’ve been using it as a recruitment incentive and retention for years,” she added. “This is more a reflection of the police, the police bring so much to the community and we’ve heard a bunch of times about the 24/7 police coverage and wanting that and if there’s not enough officers on the force we can’t do that.”

During discussion, Councilmember Barbara Masorti emphasized that the grant funding is not something the city will need to repay.

“That is money that is our taxpayer dollars from the federal and state governments that are coming back to the city as a gift. That million and a half dollars does not have to be repaid to anyone,” she said.

Councilmember Jeff Brinker asked if the $2.1 million from the borrowed funds could be used instead on renovating City Hall.

“We cannot. Because of the permission to bid at the end of (2025) we certified it for the Lock Haven Police Building,” Roberts said. “And that was dedicated in our budget to the Lock Haven Police Building this entire time. We’ve only used the portion of the roof for this building and then we got the go ahead to explore the LH police building. We’ve been using the remainder of this budget.”

Councilmember Heather Alexander expressed frustration in the lack of movement on the project.

“This has gone on long enough. You guys want a new space. We want to give you a new space. Where do we start? Because this has gone on way too long. I would rather see there be some sort of something going even if it’s in this building now versus waiting,” she said. “It’s time to move onto something here.”

LHPD Chief Matthew Rickard said he agreed with Alexander, but noted staff have been moving.

“That’s what we’re trying to do… trying to be as fiscally responsible as possible,” he said. “We’ve spoken with the architect, we’ve knocked out things in this building to the tune of $750,000. We’re trying to narrow the margin so we don’t burn the taxpayers or burn the city.”

Alexander questioned some of the cuts that were made, referencing the information about the current conditions of the police department in City Hall.

“In the list of things that you guys are willing to negotiate there is removing lockers, removing general cabinetry and there is something else in there about the locker rooms,” she said. “But on page one of the ‘horrible conditions’ of city City Hall its says ‘one of the most apparent issues in the current police department is the poor conditions of the locker rooms.'”

Roberts cut in, noting those aspects of the project can be funded through other avenues.

“We cut some furnishings from the contract so we can get it from another grant. It’s not saying they aren’t going to have lockers, we’re shipping it to another grant pool,” she said. “We’re still applying for the same police-grade lockers, just funded through another opportunity.”

After being questioned by Alexander, Roberts said the grant would be awarded in about a year.

“What happens if, next April, we’re here again and we don’t have the grant money to do it and they just have an open space for a locker room? Then what? It’s going to come out of the city’s budget to put them into a locker room,” Alexander responded.

Roberts said if that were to happen, staff would continue to apply for other grant opportunities.

“I think there’s plenty of other benefits to a new building besides the locker rooms, which are, as I wrote, deplorable. But that’s a small thing that can happen over time,” she said.

She noted it’s the same with other items such as the fencing around the parking area.

“That’s something that could come over time, whether that’s three years from now or five years from now,” she said. “We’re trying to get this going. We’re trying to move as you have asked. But we’re also trying to deal within the budget.”

Building Code Official Cyndi Walker added that many of the items considered in initial projections were the “best-case-scenario.”

“That’s something that can be downgraded, that the police department themselves can tell what to expect as far as equipment goes,” Walker said.

Rickard backed up Walker’s statements, using evidence storage as an example. He said there would already be improvement in the new facility due to climate control.

He said the specs included something in relation to possible rolling storage or higher end equipment.

“But as far as storage and cabinetry, we can get by with going to Sam’s Club and getting gorilla shelves. They’re sturdy and will last,” he said.

Alexander reiterated that she wants to see the police department have an upgraded space. However, she felt the timeline was taking too long.

“My concern is that I feel like we’re constantly circling. We either see positive numbers and projections and get this thing going or we look into redoing this building,” she said.

Councilmember Rick Conklin motioned to permit staff to rebid the general construction of the project, which was seconded by Brannan.

“That allows us to move ahead. Until we see new numbers we’re not going to know,” he said.

Prior to a vote, Brinker said his perspective was to give Dush’s office 30 days to see if gap funding could be provided.

“Now if we know we don’t have the money coming back to help support that and I would be a hundred percent in favor of doing something to this building so that the police department and city hall would have something that we all could make happen,” he said. “We just have to make sure that it works for the taxpayers and works for you and those people sitting here that work here.”

Walker cautioned that renovations in current City Hall could become difficult while remaining in line with the Uniformed Construction Code. She said there are certain percentages of renovations that must be done, and guidelines that must be reached in terms of ADA compliance and other enforcement which could have ripple effects even if council were to only want the police department renovated.

“Just so everybody understands that even if we have the $2.2 million in the loan money. We still might not be able to do the renovations at this building and not hit that cap where we have to do more than that to this building because of safe code requirements,” she said.

Brinker requested staff bring back more information regarding those requirements.

Ultimately council voted 6-1 to allow staff to rebid general construction of the building, with Mayor Joel Long voting no.