1st major contract awarded for West Deer's new township building

West Deer has taken the first major step toward constructing a new municipal building.

Supervisors on Wednesday awarded a nearly $420,000 contract to HHSDR Architects of Pittsburgh to design the new township building to replace the current facility, built in 1952.

The new building will be constructed beside the current building along East Union Road.

RSSC Architects submitted a $398,000 bid, but HHSDR provided additional measures necessary to the project, which allows officials to legally accept a higher bid.

The other bid for the project was $464,000 submitted by Entasis of Zelienople.

On April 20, supervisors Chairwoman Beverly Jordan told residents that real estate taxes will not be raised for the project since the township has set aside money in recent annual budgets to pay for a new building.

The township received a $1.5 million state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant last month to help with the cost. The grant was facilitated by state Sen. Lindsey Williams, D-Ross, and state Rep. Robert Brooks, R-Murrysville.

RACP is a state grant program administered by the Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational and historical improvement projects, according to the state’s Office of the Budget website.

The current building, constructed in 1952, is outdated, officials said. It has three people sharing one office and two in another.