LOCK HAVEN — Renovations of Lock Haven City Hall could take place by 2027.

This timeline was included in a proposal from Buchart Horn Architects presented to city council at its meeting on Monday night.

The proposal was created in cooperation with council’s building committee, city staff and Buchart Horn and laid out a scope of services for the project including a timeline and cost. Services include the concept design and construction administration.

City Planner/Interim Manager Abbey Roberts noted the cost — which totals $261,800 — includes fees for the $1 million USDA grant.

“All of the plans and specifications will have to be sent through USDA again as contingent on the grant funding,” Roberts said.

This comes after the city adjusted the scope of its project from a new building construction to renovations following council’s decision not to move forward with constructing a building for the Lock Haven Police Department last month.

The proposal included a breakdown of the timeline for the work as follows:

— Programming and concept design completed in roughly three weeks this summer.

— Schematic design completed in about four weeks this summer.

— Design and development to be completed in about six weeks in the fall.

— Construction documents completed in about 12 weeks in early winter.

— Bidding and negotiation taking about four weeks beginning the winter of 2026.

— Construction, under a phased approach, would begin in 2027 and take about 16 weeks, being completed in 2028.

Council did not discuss the proposal and unanimously approved it.

It was noted by Roberts the city will be billed by Buchart Horn on a monthly basis. If additional services are needed, the city would be billed on an hourly or negotiated lump-sum basis per the architect’s standard rate schedule.

While renovation plans are about to get under way, city staff provided an update to council on what steps have been taken already in-house to better improve conditions.

This includes answering a number of questions posed by council such as American with Disabilities Act (ADA) exemption processes; moving documents from the basement level to the second floor and others.

According to a progress report submitted by Roberts, the six items specifically requested of city staff have either been fully or partially addressed.

The report outlined six total action items addressed, of those four were ongoing and two others were completed. Those action items were:

— Investigation of ADA exemption process

— Cleaning a storm inlet at the basement entrance of the police department

— Relocating police files and evidence from the basement to the second floor

— Receive cost estimate and understand the process of lead paint and asbestos abatement

— Relocate water meter testing equipment in the basement

— Begin the design process of the locker rooms with Buchart Horn

COMPLETED ITEMS

According to the progress report, the ADA exemption process and relocation of the water meter has been completed.

In a memo from Building Code Officer Cyndi Walker, staff spoke with Frank Tourscher, of Code Inspection, Inc., the city would need to submit a stamped plan detailing renovations that would indicate an accessibility requirement would be met.

This question came from Councilmember Micah Clausen, who noted in renovations the police department could be moved from the basement to the first floor and locker rooms placed on the elevated portion where code enforcement currently resides.

According to Walker’s memo, Code Inspection would reject the plans due to the non-compliance which would provide the city an opportunity to file an appeal for relief through a variance request.

“The application requires that the plans be a part of the submission for the variance request,” Walker said in the memo.

The fee for the appeal would be $414.19 with an additional $1,705.75 if the city wanted an expedited hearing.

Walker’s memo stated Tourscher has only been involved in a few variance requests to the Department of Labor and Industry, which consisted of small hair salon businesses and gas well pad sites.

“Those variances were granted,” she said.

Roberts’ progress report noted the Department of Public Works had relocated the water meter testing equipment in 2025.

“Excess equipment remains in the room and will be removed,” she said, noting the room is also used as storage by the Frozen Snot Trail Race.

“These materials can be relocated if the room is utilized for renovations,” she said.

ONGOING ITEMS

Ongoing items included in the progress report were storm inlet cleaning, relocations of files, cost estimates for lead paint and asbestos abatement and the design process for renovations.

Roberts’ report included photographs of the storm inlet cleaning along with the following update: “Crews from the Department of Public Works attempted to clean the inlet at the entrance of the police department and found a collapsed pipe caked with dirt and debris. Crews were able to extend a camera a short distance and found a ‘void’ but no existing pipe. Further investigation is needed to identify the best way to address the issue.”

For the relocation of police files and evidence from the non-climate controlled basement to a secure space on the second floor, Roberts’ report outlined two proposed options and requested direction prior to moving forward.

The report said staff met on May 21 where they reviewed steps to take in order to relocate the items.

“This includes reviewing the inventory of the room completed by intern, Dante Peterson, and assigning specific filing cabinets/items to be cleaned out by the appropriate staff person,” the report stated. “When the files are consolidated, empty filing cabinets, old electronics and other furnishings will be moved to the basement or disposed of. The remaining furnishing will be organized in an efficient layout that accommodates future file storage.”

The report added that staff worked together to develop options to accommodate relocating the files and addressed security needs.

In terms of the cost estimate and process of lead paint and asbestos abatement, Walker contacted R.L. Abatement. The report states the company asked numerous questions about the scope of work, materials and methods that must be answered prior to receiving a quote.

“Walker is currently working on developing proposed responses to those questions and the (building) committee will receive an update when the quote is received,” the report said.

The final ongoing item is the design process for renovations, which council approved on Monday night.