BUTLER TWP — The Butler Area Sewer Authority on Wednesday approved an extension of sewer lines in Center Township.

Ron Olsen, owner of Olsen Associates in Butler, asked the authority to approve the Center Township plan so the township can build an 18,000-square-foot maintenance department building and office on Henricks Road behind the Giant Eagle grocery store at the Clearview Mall.

Olsen asked the authority to approve extending the line not only for the township building, but also along the road, opening up possibilities for both mall and other development.

Center Township will pay for the extension construction.

Jim Tomazich, a BASA engineer, said the extension would open three or four parcels on Henricks Road's southern side to development and 20 acres on the northern side of the road.

In other business, the BASA board approved advertising for proposals for a space audit of the BASA building on Litman Road.

Tom Rockovich, BASA executive director, said whatever firm would be chosen would talk to staff, analyze ways to better use the space and determine what space it may need.

Authority member Mike English said he thought the audit is a "bit premature," but fellow member George Shockey asked English, "Are we not busting at the seams now?"

English said they were, prompting Shockey to add, "Then it's time we do something."

Rockovich said the audit would be just the first step for the authority to get an idea about what it must or can do next, assuring board member Van Peterson that the study would be done as cheaply as possible.