Coaldale Borough Council will get a new police vehicle at a significant discount.

Council learned last week that their application was approved for a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.The grant will cover 75 percent of the cost of a new police car. The police department had discussed replacing a model that is more than five years old.In total, the borough will have to pay $10,574 for a vehicle valued at roughly $42,000.Borough Treasurer Anissa Nunemacher said she put together the grant application in about three weeks after learning the funds were available. She was told by a USDA official that it's much shorter than the normal turnaround for an application, she said."As of today, we were approved," Nunemacher said. "She said 'I've never seen a grant come together this fast.' "The timing of the grant is ideal for the borough. Last month, police chief Keith Krapf asked in his written report for the borough to consider buying a new vehicle to replace a 2010 Ford Crown Victoria."The high mileage of this vehicle and the increasing mileage of the others is of increasing concern," he wrote.Borough council applauded Nunemacher for her work on the grant, and challenged her to win more. They agreed to appoint her to the borough's vacant grant writer position in addition to her job as part-time secretary. The borough had budgeted $2,000 this year for the post.Councilwoman Claire Remington said she would like to see Nunemacher get trained in grant writing to further improve the borough's ability to win the awards.Other businessCouncil also took the following action:• Ratified a $9,000 bill from Joseph Hutta Plumbing and Heating for emergency sewer repairs at Fifth and High streets. Francis Hutta abstained because they are related.• Council voted to remove Ken Hankey as supervisor of the road crew. He will stay as road crew member and his pay is unchanged.• Agreed to shut down a section of High Street, between Fifth and Sixth streets, for the Coal Crackin' Rock the Block event, as well as Sixth Street between Phillips and High streets on Sept. 9.• Discussed working with a borough teenager about creating more works of art for the borough hall. Alex Kessler will draw four historical Coaldale buildings for the project. He previously gave council a hand-drawn tiger that hangs in the building. He has asked council to cover his expenses for the project, but no compensation.• Voted to reject a resignation letter from a police officer who did not give two weeks notice. Officer Joe David was employed 32 hours a week, but resigned because of a conflict with another job.• Voted to hire Anthony Christian Houser as a part-time police officer.