A discussion about construction of a possible police training facility in Franko Farm Park is expected to be on the agenda of a workshop following the 7 p.m. Feb. 9 Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners’ meeting.

Commissioners’ workshops, which follow meetings in the municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave., are for discussion purposes and votes are not taken.

The Salisbury Township administration emailed Feb. 3 about the workshop, which is listed on the township website.

The email, with the topic, “Outdoor Police Training Facility,” listed near the top, states:

“Salisbury Township welcomes the public to attend the Board’s Workshop session on Thursday evening, Feb. 9, 2023, at the Salisbury Township building located at 2900 South Pike Avenue, Allentown PA 18103. Workshop sessions immediately follow the Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting which begins at 7 p.m.

“The Township is considering the construction of an outdoor police training facility (including a shooting range) at the Township’s Franko property located on Black River Road. We encourage public participation and feedback in that discussion and look forward to seeing you there,” the email concludes.

The meeting’s workshop agenda on the township website states:

“Board of Commissioners Workshop Meeting, Feb. 9, 2023, 7:30 p.m. (approximate time), Topics of discussion:

“ • Review and discussion on the Township’s proposed plans to construct a Police Training Facility to be located at the Township’s Franko property on Black River Road.”

Township officials have been mulling a training facility for the township police department for more than one year.

The purpose of the workshop is to hear and review the preliminary concept plan for the training facility and to get public input.

Location of the training facility is expected to be in the vicinity of the Franko Farm Recycling Center.

When the facility was first presented, discussion had it placed in the vicinity of sports fields and walking paths at Franko.

Subsequently, it was indicated, the facility would be in the vicinity of the recycling center at Franko, which has specific hours of operation. This would keep the facility out of the main park area.

The plan for the training facility was designed by Keystone Engineering, Inc., the township’s previous consulting engineer firm. Barry Isett & Associates was hired as township engineer, commencing Jan. 1.

Even though the training facility would be operated by the township police department, the plan for it would need to be submitted for review to the township planning commission. The facility would need to receive a majority vote of approval before construction could begin.

The facility would not need to be reviewed by the township zoning hearing board. The municipal use is apparently permitted.

As of the deadline for this article, there is no timetable for construction of the police training facility nor an estimate of its cost.

Building the facility was discussed during commissioners’ meetings and workshops in 2022 and 2021.

At the Sept. 22, 2022, township workshop, one of the topics was “police shooting range plans.”

Township Commissioner Alex Karol said at the Sept. 22, 2022 workshop the shooting range would be more accurately called a “police training facility.”

Then Salisbury Township Chief of Police Kevin Soberick agreed, and said on training days, approximately 15 minutes would comprise the firing of weapons.

K-9 training could take place at the facility, it was said.

“It’s [the location of the training facility] now considered at Franko behind the drop-off,” Salisbury Township Manager Cathy Bonaskiewich said at the Sept. 22, 2022 workshop.

“It’s definitely a better place,” Soberick said.

Training would not take place when the Franko recycling area is in use, it was said.

It was said the Franko police facility would be discussed at an upcoming township workshop, which is to take place Feb. 9.

During the public comment portion of the April 14, 2022, meeting, two residents voiced opposition to Franko Farm Park as a possible site for a township police department gun-firing practice range.

A resident asked if an indoor firing range is an option. Soberick said an indoor shooting range could cost $2 million.

Referring to Unami Fish & Game Associates, 75 Chestnut Hill Road, where township police use the gun range, Soberick said, “They are very generous, but there are just some things that are not suitable.”

Soberick said police must qualify in gun use twice per year.

“It would primarily be business hours, in groups of four or five,” Soberick said of the hours of operation for the police training facility. “This is twice a year with some other training,” Soberick said.

At the March 24, 2022, commissioners’ meeting, township officials confirmed the then Salisbury Township consulting engineering firm was drawing up plans for a Salisbury Township Police Department training facility in Franko Farm Park.

At the March 24, 2022 meeting, three persons, including two township residents and one Bethlehem resident, questioned officials about the police facility.

A new township police department shooting range was mentioned in public meetings in fall and winter 2021 during discussions for the 2022 township budget.

“We’re in the design phase right now. Keystone is drawing up plans,” Bonaskiewich told a reporter for The Press before the March 24, 2022 commissioners’ meeting.

“When we have the plans, we’re going to bring them to a workshop for discussion with commissioners and the public,” Bonaskiewich said.

“The project would be the same as any development would be,” then Salisbury Township Consulting Engineer David J. Tettemer of Keystone Consulting Engineers told a reporter for The Press before the March 24, 2022 commissioners’ meeting.

A firearms shooting facility is needed for practice and certification of township police officers, Soberick told a reporter for The Press.

The Feb. 9 commissioners meeting is to include the following agenda items:

1. Motion Accepting Time Extension to June 11, for the Preliminary-Final Land Development at 2844 S. Pike Ave.

2. Motion Accepting Time Extension to May 29, for the Preliminary-Final Land Development at 206 E. Lynwood St.

The Salisbury Township Zoning Hearing Board is scheduled to meet 7 p.m. Feb. 8 in the municipal building.