BUTLER TWP — Members of the Butler County Area Agency on Aging hope to speak with builders of the agency’s planned new facility before construction work begins.

Beth Herold, agency director, said at Tuesday’s advisory board meeting that input from people who will use the facility is important.

“I think it’s important that the engineer and the architect making the plans understand what a senior center is and what we are looking to accomplish with this space,” Herold said.

Butler County is purchasing a facility for the agency with new offices and opportunities for seniors and the county at a building previously housing the Butler Health and Fitness center, which is on Duffy Road near the Butler VA Healthcare center.

Leslie Osche, county commissioners chairwoman, said at the advisory board meeting that the county is waiting on a closing date for the property.

“We have a signed sales agreement,” Osche said. “They are testing the sewer line and it needs replaced, I believe, from the road, and so that is an issue that had to be addressed before moving forward.”

Some advisory board members said they want more opportunities for gardening, which Herold said could be possible at the new facility.

“We might be able to do some gardening and raise vegetables that we can use at a salad bar,” Herold said. “We’ll have availability to do some gardening or landscaping-type things.”

Herold also said the agency plans to use a state grant it received last month for about $30,000 to purchase virtual reality headsets that will allow senior citizens to get the thrill of traveling without having to leave a senior center.

“Let’s say you want to take a tour of Italy,” Herold said. “You put the goggles on and you are immersed into Italy. They’ll have a tour guide that will show you different things and potentially we will have Italian (cuisine) for lunch.”