Once being evaluated for consolidation, the state police barracks in Philipsburg is no longer on the chopping block.

A spokesman from state Rep. Scott Conklin’s office said officials have confirmed the Philipsburg barracks will remain open.

In March, state police spokeswoman Maria Finn said the Philipsburg barracks was among a number of stations statewide being considered for consolidation due to budget constraints.

Tor Michaels, chief of staff for Conklin, said the representative’s office received word from state police Commissioner Frank Noonan last week that the discussion was off the table.

Conklin, D-Rush Township, had invited Noonan to attend a town hall meeting last week in Philipsburg to address residents’ security concerns, including the possible closure of the barracks.

Noonan responded that he could not attend, but confirmed the barracks would remain open, Michaels said.

Finn confirmed in an email that there has been no future discussion about closing the station.

“We view this as just tremendous good news for the Moshannon Valley,” Michaels said.

Residents and elected officials had publicly expressed concerns that a closure of the Philipsburg station would lead to longer response times and potentially stretch police too thin.

The Philipsburg barracks is between the Rockview barracks outside Milesburg and the Clearfield barracks in Clearfield County.

It’s about 22 miles, or 36 minutes, from Rockview and about 18 miles, or 30 minutes, from the Clearfield barracks.

Matt Carroll can be reached at 231-4631. Follow him on Twitter @Carrollreporter