Oil City Council members discussed at their meeting Thursday the National Guard armory property in Hasson Heights that the city has the option to take over as the owner.
City manager Mark Schroyer said he toured the facility earlier in the year and thought using it for a public safety facility would be a good fit. He added that he would like to take city staff on a tour of the armory.
“We need to have a plan before we proceed. It would be ideal for the fire department and maybe the police. The garage bays are fantastic and it has a jail cell,” Schroyer said of the armory.
Schroyer noted there has been discussion of moving City Hall to the armory, but he said that is unlikely to happen.
Councilman Ron Gustafson noted that the costs associated with the building would be maintenance and heat, and it is in the middle of other property in Hasson Heights that is owned by the city.
Gustafson added that down the road there might be an opportunity to partner with the county to move the Venango County 911 center to that facility and perhaps also to partner with Cornplanter Volunteer Fire Department.
Councilman Dale Massie said the city should find out the costs of maintaining the building before proceeding with any decisions.
