WASHINGTON — The Department of Veteran’s Affairs says it’s still committed to constructing a new multimillion dollar health care facility, but local officials have not heard much about its progress.

The agency, which had plans to build a $70 million facility on the former Deshon Woods property off Route 68 in Butler Township, last year pulled the plug on the trouble-ridden developer and the 20-year lease of the proposed building.

If built, the new facility would replace much of VA Butler Healthcare on New Castle Road in Butler Township.

VA officials last fall said they were interviewing for a new developer, which potentially could change the location of the project since the original developer, Westar, owns the Deshon Woods property.

Four site contenders in three townships were verified to be in the running. And the VA said it would announce its choice “by spring.”

The VA recently released this statement: “The Department of Veterans Affairs is aggressively working to make the contract award for the facility as soon as possible.”

But municipal officials from the three townships — Butler, Center and Franklin — say they haven’t been contacted in months.

“I haven’t heard anything since March,” said Butler Township manager Ed Kirkwood.

Additionally, officials in the office of U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-3rd, of Butler said the agency did not respond to the congressman’s request for a report on the VA’s actions to correct the issues surrounding the original leasing problems.

“(Kelly) basically called on the VA to come forth and explain what went wrong and how they are going to fix it,” said Tom Qualtere, communication’s director for Kelly. “They have had not just weeks but months to do so.”