BUTLER TWP — Butler Township manager Ed Kirkwood will be a busy letter writer this week.

The township commissioners on Monday told Kirkwood to write two letters about areas of concern in the township. The first letter will express disappointment that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has opted to forgo its original plan to build a new health care center in the township in favor of a Center Township location.

The second letter will be to the Butler School District in support of keeping Meridian Elementary School open.

Several commissioners said they were surprised by the VA’s announcement last week that a new 168,000-square-foot health care center will be built on a farm on North Duffy Road, about 1.4 miles away from the Butler Township campus on New Castle Road.

Commissioner Sam Zurzolo called the announcement a “slap in the face.”

Commissioners like Zurzolo and David Zarnick said the township watched as the 15.9-acre Deshon Woods site, which is property the township sold to a developer in 2013 for $2.4 million, with the understanding that it would be used by the VA, was cleared of beautiful trees. It now is vacant with a questionable future.

Commissioner Chairman Joseph Hasychak said they believed those trees were coming down “for a good reason.”

“What were the reasons for this decision?” Zarnick asked. “I think we are entitled to that.”

Kirkwood was told to send that letter to officials at the VA as well as local lawmakers.

In a second unanimous decision, the board told Kirkwood to write a letter to the Butler School Board supporting Meridian Elementary, the lone school in the township under consideration for closing as part of a districtwide consolidation plan.

In making the decision to authorize the letter, which came in response to a request by resident Nina Teff, the commissioners acknowledged they have not done any research related to cost or feasibility.

The letter is simply supporting the school which is in the township and the residents who use it.