Politics & Government

Ela Township to Buy Post Office Building

Purchase price of $700,000 won't increase tax levy burden on township residents.

Ela Township officials are planning for the future as senior, youth, education and community programs continue to grow.  Included in those plans is the purchase of the 10,400-square-foot post office building at 380 Surryse Rd. for $700,000.

“We have to think of the future as our contracted use of the Foglia YMCA will end at some point,” said Lucy Prouty, township supervisor.

Prouty said programs provided by the township such as ‘55 Plus’ and space for the Omni Services will continue to utilize space at the YMCA.

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“This parcel became available and fits well into our future plans,” Prouty added.

The $700,000 price tag for the building won't require any tax levy increase for Ela Township residents.

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“We have been fiscally responsible and did not have to borrow any money for the purchase of this building; it takes careful planning and responsible saving,” said Nancy Thompson, trustee.  

“Now we won’t have to build a new building at a much greater cost then we had thought when our agreement with the Y comes to an end,” said Larry Bowman, trustee.

“The agreement (with Foglia YMCA) has 14 years left on it, but as programs grow, our current space isn’t enough to accommodate what we will need sooner than that,” said Jack Reck, trustee.

One of the main features of the building beating touted by the township is its proximity to many community locales that will benefit residents.

“The beauty of this location is that it is in walking distance to the library and Zurich Meadows senior housing which is currently under construction,” Thompson said.  

Liberty Lakes apartments also are close by, where a large number of children involved in Ela Township programs live.

“This new building will allow more space for groups I run at Liberty Lakes that have as many as 30 children in them; we can get very crowded in the community room we currently use,” said Susan Kostner, Ela Township social worker.

A full service kitchen, computer lab, meeting rooms and a lounge and game area are a handful of ideas the township is contemplating for the building.  

The additional space will also lend itself to more opportunities for intergenerational programming through the ’55 Plus’ program.

“I’m looking forward to having cooking classes for seniors and young people together, so they are able to pass along family recipes while building relationships,” said Susan Dillon, Ela Township ’55 Plus’ director.

A successful building inspection and encouraging meetings with the village have already occurred, said Reck.

“Upon final attorney review, the closing of the property is anticipated to be on or before June 30,” Reck said.

Once the purchase is complete, senior, social services and youth department heads will be reviewing the facility and providing input for the minimal redesign of the building to maximize its use, said Prouty.

“I am excited about the prospect of outdoor activities as well as the excellent parking already in place,” Prouty added.

Potential outdoor activities could include gardening, bocci ball and basketball and an array of other programs that would serve to engage the community.

Prouty said overflow of meetings that currently utilize the cramped Ela Historical Society building will also benefit from additional space in the building.

Post office operations will be consolidated and moved to the post office building located at Route 22 and Telser Road sometime in June, said Reck.

Two recent major projects completed within the township include the newly constructed Ela Township building and the concession stand at Knox Park for sports activities; both of which also required no increase in levy because of planning, said Prouty.

The purchase was approved by the township board at the Feb. 4 meeting.


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