LANCASTER TWP — A plan to purchase property for the purpose of constructing a new township headquarters drew criticism from dozens of residents during a special meeting Monday, Aug. 11.

Supervisors and staff held a two-hour informational session in regard to buying what they say is an ideal spot for the township’s office, police station, public works facility and new community center located on 12.93 acres at 600 Perry Highway.

According to a June 5 appraisal by Craig Gehm Appraisals authorized by the township, the property was valued at $1 million.

The property already contains two houses officials say would be remodeled. One would be used for office space and the police station, while the other would be retrofitted to house public works.

There would also be a plan in place to build a new Americans with Disabilities Act compliant-community center in between those two structures projected to cost about $1.5 million.

In an information packet, officials noted at least eight advantages to the new location, including the fact the municipal campus would be centrally located on one property and would be “highly visible from Route 19” and “more easily accessible.”

They also wrote that the “proposed expansion will provide more community space for meetings, training and programs.”

Some of the disadvantages they wrote about the current space included the fact that the “township offices are divided into multiple locations,” “there is one well and one septic system for the entire campus,” and the “current location is located next to residents on all sides.”

“We feel like we’ve kind of outgrown this area a little bit,” said code enforcement officer and roadmaster Ed Spurk.

However, multiple residents questioned the thought process behind building a new municipal campus instead of utilizing the existing campus or a portion of the space at nearby Four Springs Park.

They also were skeptical of the $1 million appraisal of the property, with several questioning the transparency of supervisors.

Included in the informational packet was one of six pages of the uniform residential appraisal report.

“We requested that they give the appraisal,” said resident John Perry, who was an outspoken critic of township officials throughout the meeting. “They gave one page of the appraisal. (It) has no details of the appraised value. (It) has a summary statement and one page.”

Furthermore, Perry said the property was being drastically overvalued after it checked in at more than $77,000 per acre.

“I think they’re drastically overpaying,” he said.

Officials said in the packet “the most cost-effective way to purchase the property would be to sell the property with the current municipal building,” while “the community center would be retained.” After the property is bought, officials stated they would rely on state grants to help fund construction of the new community center, among other potential upgrades to the property.

Residents were wary over whether those grants would ever come to fruition and if the proposed property acquisition would force the township to raise taxes.

Township manager Mary Hess attempted to assure residents that raising taxes was not part of the current plan, noting there hasn’t been any increase in four decades aside from a hike in the fire tax.

“There’s been no plan to raise taxes,” she said to residents. “This is not a plan so that we can come after you for more tax dollars. You have three conservative supervisors that have no desire to raise taxes on anybody.”

Officials urged residents to formally submit any questions that weren’t thoroughly discussed during the two-hour session. They said more of those concerns would be addressed during the regular monthly meeting.

“There are things that we will have to address,” Hess told residents. “You’re bringing up very good questions. We will address them and we want to address them.”