One of the most important messages delivered at Friday’s meeting about a new VA Butler Healthcare health care center is that the public is interested and wants to be kept informed about new developments as they occur, not weeks or months later.

Friday’s meeting was scheduled by U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-3rd, who in June raised questions about the new facility, including the fact that it will be built by a private developer and leased back to the VA for 20 years.

The developer will be paid $6.6 million annually under the lease arrangement. Plans are for construction to begin this fall and be completed in 2014.

A key point of concern for the community since plans for the health care center were announced was the lack of interaction with the Butler area as plans for the facility were being developed.

There was interaction with veterans and the VA center staff, but the public was not brought into the discussion.

And, the announcement of the plans brought the public’s logical questions and concerns about the future of Building 1, the large structure that the new center will replace.

Many people don’t want it to be razed, while many other people still aren’t convinced that new construction makes the most sense to meet the VA’s needs. Those people point to the millions of dollars of renovations that the VA has made to the building in recent years.

However, it remains a fact that the building, built in the 1930s, has many problems — at least from the VA’s standpoint and commitment to providing excellent care. Nevertheless, the building might be able to accommodate some other entity or entities, and the community shouldn’t give up without exploring all possibilities.

The community doesn’t have to act quickly regarding a decision about Building 1’s future. The VA won’t be moving out of it for approximately two years, so there’s an adequate window of time to deal with that issue.

Communication and open discussion will be the keys to making the right decision about Building 1 — as well as getting the word out, across the country, about the future availability of the structure.

“This is just the first step,” Kelly said, referring to Friday’s session. “Now we have questions from the public that need to be answered and more of a direction to go, and we will be back to continue the process.”

Meanwhile, the community should not hesitate to ask additional questions. From the community’s perspective, the future of Building 1 is a big deal.

If there’s an opportunity for the building, one that will enable it to remain an asset to the community, it should not be squandered.

Kelly should use his contacts and resources to help the community compile and explore prospective opportunities.

But communication will be a key element in charting Building 1’s future, as well as acquainting veterans and the public with the care that will be available at the new facility.

The VA underestimated the community’s concern when planning for the new building was taking place. Thanks in part to Kelly’s meeting, the VA no longer can be comfortable with that prior thinking.