The Butler Area Sewer Authority board on Tuesday agreed to ask an architectural firm what it would cost to get drawings to renovate and upgrade authority buildings.

The authority has been working with EADS, a Pittsburgh architectural firm, and Johnson Controls, a firm that addresses utility costs for businesses, to upgrade the authority’s facilities on Litman Road in Butler Township.

Reconfiguring work space, making the building greener and upgrading heating and air conditioning systems, as well as reusing other buildings, was estimated by the two firms to cost about $1.7 million.

That amount was borrowed in 2010 along with money to build seven stormwater storage tanks to help stop sewage overflows — a plan ordered by the state Department of Environmental Protection that must be done in 2012.

But Jerry Patterson, authority chairman, said the building firms have never been asked to draw a plan that would allow board members to determine what work they actually want to complete and to pinpoint a more realistic price.

However, board members Van Peterson and Mike English have problems with building renovations.

Peterson said the authority is already spending a lot of money on the tank project and that the building renovations are not necessary.

“It’s too much. We’re spending too much of the taxpayers’ money,” he said.

English agrees that the cost is too steep without making efforts to reduce heating and air conditioning.

“I think we ought to button it up tight first, replace the roof and all the windows and then see what kind of savings we have from that before making all these other changes,” English said.

English reiterated one point he has made before: He doesn’t understand why the building must be brought into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

That act calls for all buildings to be built or renovated to allow access for those with handicaps. In the case of the Litman Road building that includes adding an elevator, an expensive addition.

“I don’t know why this needs to be done,” English said of the ADA fixes.

“I don’t understand why we would not do them,” Patterson responded.

In the end, English voted with the majority to ask EADS how much formal drawings would cost. Peterson voted against the motion.

BASA’s next meeting will be at 9 a.m. April 27.