The Butler Township commissioners agreed Monday to request a $6.5 million loan for a proposed recreation center from the Butler County Infrastructure Bank.

The township bought 18 acres off Hollywood Drive in the Pullman Center Business Park for the recreation center, and applied for a $2.8 million grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation's Multimodal Transportation Fund to realign Armco Drive to intersect with Hollywood Drive and realign the Hansen Avenue-Whitestown Road intersection. The road changes would improve access to the site and improve safety at the intersection.

Through the infrastructure bank lending program that was created in 2017, municipalities submit loan applications for infrastructure projects and then the county borrows money through a bond issue to fund the projects. An infrastructure bank board recommends projects for approval and the county commissioners vote on them.

The township is planning to apply to the Department of Community and Economic Development for another grant for the project, said township manager Tom Knights. Both state grant programs require the township to fund the project initially and then receive reimbursement with the grant money, Knights said. The $6.5 million loan would serve as a “backstop” to fund the project until the township receives those grants, or pay for the entire project if the grants are not approved, he said.

In addition, the commissioners approved a one-year agreement with the county to allow it to continue operating the township dek hockey rink in Butler Township Park. Because the township added pickleball courts, which are used at night, the township agreed to pay half of the electric bill, Knights said.

In unrelated business, resident Ken Shultz of Abner Drive gave submitted a petition with signatures of residents opposed to the proposed Highfield Trails residential development. Solicitor Rebecca Black said the township can't reject the development if it complies with the zoning.

Another resident, Matt Piroch of Dershimer Drive, asked if the ordinance prohibiting abandoned vehicles on properties also prohibited vehicles such as campers and boats. He said he is trying to sell a property, but is having difficulty because the adjoining property has abandoned vehicles on it. Black said the township has difficulty enforcing the ordinance because it requires proof that the vehicles do not operate, but township officials cannot enter private property to see if a vehicle runs.