BUTLER TWP — Commissioners addressed a lengthy agenda at Monday night's meeting, which included actions involving its police and park projects.

Following an executive session, Butler Township officials approved extending the collective bargaining agreement for the township's police force through 2021 under the same terms. The only revision was to Article 24, which had listed the end date as Dec. 31, 2020. The article will be changed to reflect the end date of Dec. 31, 2021.

“That was a mutual agreement between the board of commissioners, the bargaining unit and the officers here,” said Butler Township Police Chief John Hays in an interview Tuesday.

Commissioners also approved the resignation of one township officer, who will join the state police, and approved the hiring of two new officers to fill open positions.

Hays said one vacancy was made by an officer who is days away from retiring, and the other new hire would replace the officer leaving for the state police.

“I appreciate that the commissioners and the manager were proactive in filling those positions,” Hays said.

Board President Dave Zarnick said the names of the new officers will not be released until the hiring process has been completed, which involves testing and clearances.

“We're very fortunate and appreciate the tough job our police do,” Zarnick said in an interview Tuesday. “We are fortunate that we're able to maintain the numbers we have in our police force.”

Preston ParkFor the installation of a public rest room at Preston Park, the commissioners accepted a bid for one phase of the project and opened sets of bids for another phase.Commissioners approved a contract for the second phase of the project, going with Gregor Contracting, of Renfrew, which submitted the lowest bid of $440,735.The second phase would include running both public water and sewer to the anticipated bathroom.The paving portion of the bathroom project involves adding additional roadwork and parking spaces.Township manager Tom Knights said the iron gates standing by the roadway will become the entryway where the new road begins and takes park visitors to the flagpole and new nearby parking spaces. Visitors would then travel down the existing road as the exit. The park would have a total of 67 parking spaces by the end of the project, and all its roads and parking will be freshly paved.“Parking is the premium there,” Knights said.The township received three bids, of which the lowest bid was submitted by Wiest Asphalt at $86,531, followed by Shields Asphalt at $90,755.36 and Holbein with a bid of $101,344.The commissioners tabled the decision for further review.

Pickleball courtsThe commissioners also made moves on projects involving two of the township's parks.The board first approved the addition of pickleball courts at Butler Township Park. Knights said the project should not exceed $50,000.“Initially, we had hoped to fit four (courts) in there,” Knights said. “Three is all we can really accommodate.”The costs would involve asphalt paving and fencing around the perimeter. Knights said the pickleball courts will be grouped and level with the deck hockey courts.“We hope to have all three courts operational by September,” he said.Knights noted the use of the courts will be restricted to daylight hours because lighting is not initially being added.Township engineer Dan Deiseroth of Gateway Engineering said his company recently worked on a tennis court project, which would have similar lighting expenses, costing between $40,000 and $50,000.