A motion to change the locks on the building housing the aerial truck was hotly debated at the Tamaqua Borough Council.

The building straddles the block between Mauch Chunk and Pine Street, next to the American Hose Company. In addition to the borough’s aerial truck, it also houses units owned by the Tamaqua Community Ambulance Association. Over the past several months, there has been an unsuccessful effort to have keys returned from people who no longer drive the aerial truck and no way for the borough to monitor who goes in and out of the building.

Council’s building and equipment committee suggested placing electronic locks on the doors, accessible only by password. A master list of users would be kept on file and it would be easy to change someone’s ability to access the building.

Councilman Dan Evans made a motion to purchase the locks from High Mountain Hardware Inc. at a cost of $4,065.40.

Councilman Ritchie Linkhorst asked if the ambulance association was in agreement with changing the locks, causing Evans to admit the committee hadn’t contacted anyone.

“I guess we didn’t communicate very well.”

That led to a discussion on who owns the building, as several members thought it was a three-way venture among the borough, the ambulance association and the American Hose Company. The building is jointly owned by the borough and the ambulance association only.

The motion to purchase and install the locks passed unanimously.

One other fire department issue was also discussed when South Ward Fire Chief Mark Bower asked for an update on his request for an old hydrant for training purposes.

Assistant Borough Manager Rob Jones said, “The next hydrant that comes out of the ground is yours. I suspect that will be the one at Spruce and Coal streets, as that will be replaced before Spruce Street is repaved at the end of the bridge project.”