A proposal has been presented for a new Salisbury Township police evidence storage facility.

The $250,000 facility would be built on property at Eastern Salisbury Fire Company, East Emmaus Avenue and Honeysuckle Road.

Salisbury Police Chief Allen W. Stiles and Police Sgt. Donald Sabo, Jr. made the presentation for the facility at the Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners' April 23 meeting workshop.

Following the presentation, four of the five commissioners in attendance told Stiles they support the project.

Stiles would apply for Lehigh County "Casino Corridor" funds for the project.

No timetable for the project was announced. Nor was a contractor announced.

The structure is to be of pole-barn construction, with a metal exterior shell. Colors, exterior siding and accoutrements can help to match the building with the existing Eastern Salisbury building. The floor would be a concrete slab.

The project would be a joint effort of township police and the two township fire departments.

Stiles said the building "would provide us with a facility to store our own evidence.

"One factor we've not secured is long-term storage of our evidence," Stiles said.

Two or three bays of the township Public Works Department building are "tied up" for impounded vehicles, according to Stiles.

"The overall goal is that we have secure storage," Stiles said.

"I think this will move us into the next 15 to 20 years of our strategic plan," Stiles said.

It is expected the project would have to go through the township Zoning Hearing Board and Planning Commission approval process.

According to the presentation, the township police department's working toward accreditation for the past several years "became held up at secure storage and long-term space for evidence storage and processing."

Police officials looked at several sites in the township to "ensure the most cost-effective solution possible."

Following the passage of the Fire Inspection-Safety Program in 2013, Lehigh County Fire State 59 "was started and continues to grow and expand roles and responsibilities to assist in operations of both fire departments [Eastern and Western Salisbury Fire Departments].

"Emergency Management equipment and supplies for proper community readiness and preparedness are maintained by our departments and storage of this resource is limited and not consistent," the proposal stated.

"Mission-ready storage is essential to Emergency Management Administration operations."

Options considered included: building at Franko Farm Park, Western Salisbury Fire Department Eisenhower facility, addition to Eastern Salisbury Fire Department and other township properties.

The rear area along the parking lot line at Eastern Salisbury was chosen.

"It actually is in our Casino Safety Corridor," Stiles said. "This provides us another base of operation.

"We can put it in without going into the wetlands or adjoining property," Stiles said.

The township fire prevention trailer would be stored at the facility.

Eastern Salisbury has requested a fire hydrant be installed on the property as part of the project.

The building would be heated, cooled in the evidence area and have running water for washing apparatus.

"Protection of equipment, vehicles, evidence and property is the primary focus of this project," it was stated.

According to the presentation, the police department has outgrown buildings in the township for public safety use.

The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. is a credentialing authority based in the United States, whose primary mission is to accredit public safety agencies, including law enforcement agencies, training academies, communications centers and campus public safety agencies.

The Commission was created in 1979 by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, National Sheriffs' Association and the Police Executive Research Forum.