Bowmanstown is applying for a grant in its quest to have its borough building listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Borough council unanimously agreed on Tuesday to submit a proposal letter with cost estimate for a Keystone grant for preparation of the nomination form for the borough hall building.

The borough hall building is a converted school building that was constructed in 1903 to serve the youths of the community.

Last month, council on a 4-0 vote agreed to pursue the matter in the hope it will lead to the distinction, as the National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the nation’s historic places worthy of preservation.

That came after council on a 3-1 vote at a special workshop in July agreed to have the Bowmanstown Fire Department move forward with its grant writing - with the borough included - reapply for grants in its attempt to build a new fire station.

Resident Kerry Solt told council he would hate to see the current borough hall building be turned into apartments, as it’s a landmark.

Councilwoman Kara Scott said she was concerned about the playgrounds and basketball courts, which she said are used heavily, adding that to her, “this building is almost iconic.”

Mayor Zach Snyder said that while he understood those concerns, he was looking more long-term.

Scott said at that time that while she wants to see the fire department get the grant money for a new fire station, she worries what may become of the borough hall building.

Snyder said that even if the borough would no longer use the building as borough hall, that doesn’t mean the borough has to sell it.

Councilman Rob Moyer said the borough hall building is lacking because it’s an older building.

Borough fire Chief Michael Spairana Jr. said the fire department wanted to see if the borough would go into partnership with the proposal.

Project Engineer Eric Snyder, who is assisting in the grant application writing, said the goal is to get two separate grants; an LSA grant for 50%, and a RAC-P grant for 50%.

Council noted that the borough can be involved, but that doesn’t mean it has to move into the new fire station.

It was announced at June’s council meeting that the LSA Program did not fund the request for fire station improvements.

Scott said at that time the fire department was looking for borough involvement to participate and move their office to a new facility, and that they were reapplying.

Spairana Jr. said at that time they were talking to their fire committee about the possibility of the borough and the fire company going into the same building.

Spairana Jr. said in May that the only grant the fire department has applied for so far to help fund the project is the Monroe County LSA grant.

In April, council authorized submittal of a redevelopment assistance capital budget program grant for the fire company.

The proposed plan would be for the new station to be located above the picnic grove on Lime Street.

The existing fire station would be torn down and made into a parking lot.

The estimated cost of the project is between $1.5 million and $1.6 million, and wouldn’t reach completion for about three to five years.

The plan is to build one large fire station, and to apply for an LSA grant to fund the entire project.

Spairana Jr. has stressed that the fire company would not go forward with a new fire station unless it receives 100% funding.